DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Concessionary Bus Fares

Mark Harper: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding the Government will provide for the concessionary bus fares scheme to Forest of Dean district council and Tewkesbury borough council.

Phil Woolas: It is not possible to say since Revenue Support Grant is an unhypothecated block grant. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in his Budget statement that an extra £350 million would be added for the additional costs of moving to a free-fare scheme.

County Councils

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future of county councils.

Phil Woolas: The Government are currently engaged in a wide-ranging debate about the role, functions and form of local authorities including county councils. We plan to publish a White Paper on the future of local government in the middle of next year.

House Building

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the additional public amenities required to support new house building in the south west.

Yvette Cooper: The need for services and facilities—such as transport—to support the development of sustainable communities is currently being considered as part of the review of the Regional Spatial Strategy being undertaken by the South West regional assembly.

House Building

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on new house building in the south-east and the infrastructure to support it.

Yvette Cooper: The South East England regional assembly is completing its draft South East Plan, which includes policies on house building and infrastructure. The Government believe that providing infrastructure is an important part of supporting housing growth and sustainable communities. That is why we have proposed for consultation a Planning Gain Supplement to support infrastructure investment.

Local Government Finance

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received regarding the local government finance settlement.

Phil Woolas: There were 369 representations made to the consultation on options of the grant distribution system held over the summer. We have also received a variety of correspondence on the options between the end of this consultation and the announcement of the settlement on 5 December. Since the announcement we have received around 20 representations.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will itemise the costs which comprise the sum (a) spent to date on the council tax revaluation in England; and (b) which of these costs cannot be recouped.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency incurred approximately £60 million in costs and contractual liabilities in relation to the revaluation in England prior to its postponement. Some £45 million will be of potential use in the future.

Local Government Finance

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assurances his Department has given to the chair of the Local Government Association regarding extra financial assistance for local authorities relating to (a) licensing, (b) asylum seekers, (c) pensions and (d) disposal of electrical equipment.

Phil Woolas: The Government have been working with the Local Government Association (LGA) to consider the pressures which authorities face over the next two years and the ways that those pressures can be managed. We have been moving forward jointly with local government in a number of areas. These include the recent changes to the local government pensions scheme where my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister made clear that the revocation of the 85-year rule would not create extra pressures on local authority spending. The Government have also recently announced that the 2004–05 asylum support costs, as notified through the special circumstances arrangements, will be met in full. The same amount has been set aside to settle any 2005–06 special circumstances bids that are made by local authorities.
	The Government have confirmed with the LGA its commitment to the New Burdens procedure. My hon. Friend, the Minister for Creative Industries and Licensing re-affirmed this week that costs incurred by local authorities in meeting their requirements under the new Licensing Act will (provided they have been incurred legitimately and efficiently) be fully met by fees within the national fee regime.
	The Government are continuing to work with local authorities to establish the reasonable costs on local government resulting from the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive.

Local Government Finance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding the Local Government Finance Settlement.

Phil Woolas: Consultation on the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2006–07 opened on the 5 December and closes on 11 January 2006. Representations received so far have mainly been about the data used in the formulae.

Barker Report

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with local authority leaders in the south-east on the Government's response to Barker.

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister maintains periodic contact with the chair of the Local Government Association in order to discuss issues of concern to local authorities. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister met the Local Government Association (LGA) on 25 November. The meeting included a discussion of aspects of the Government's response to the Barker Review. Representatives from south-east local authorities were in attendance.

Deprivation Indices

Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department compiles indices of deprivation at sub-local authority level.

Phil Woolas: The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 (IMD 2004) has been compiled at sub-local authority district level. It is based on Super Output Area (SOA) level data. SOAs are aggregates of Census Output Areas, with each SOA comprising an average of 1,500 people. There are a total of 32,482 SOAs in England.

Access to Services

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information his Department collects on the (a) closure of (i) post offices, (ii) bank branches and (iii) independent retail shops and (b) effects on number of miles travelled to access services.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Cigarette Fires (Deaths)

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people died in the United Kingdom in fires caused by cigarettes in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table shows the number of people that died in the UK in a fire caused by smokers' materials (i.e. cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco) in each of the last 10 years.
	
		
			  Fatal casualties 
		
		
			 1995 168 
			 1996 179 
			 1997 167 
			 1998 160 
			 1999 130 
			 2000 143 
			 2001 146 
			 2002(1) 123 
			 2003(1) 123 
			 2004(2) 116 
		
	
	(1) Excluding incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003.
	(2) Provisional data.
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

Colchester Borough Council

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2005, Official Report, column 796W, to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on Colchester borough council, if he will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to provide the hon. Member for Colchester with a copy of the letter which the chief executive will be writing to the hon. Member for North Essex, in respect of an objection to Colchester borough council's accounts for year ended 31 March 2004.

Phil Woolas: A copy of the chief executive of the Audit Commission's reply to the hon. Member for North Essex dated 6 December has been placed in the Library of the House.

Council Tax

Martin Horwood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of each local authority's spending was represented by council tax income from householders in each council tax band in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: A table providing estimates, for each local authority, of the proportion of budgeted revenue expenditure for 2004–05 that was financed from council taxes payable in respect of each council tax band, has been made available in the Library of the House.

Council Tax

Peter Bone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations from pensioner groups he has received regarding council tax in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has identified eight written representations from groups exclusively representing pensioners on council tax in the last 12 months. Issues raised include the effect of council tax bills on pensioners on low and fixed incomes; council tax benefit; and reform of the local government finance system.
	We recognise the concerns expressed in these representations and many other letters from individual pensioners. Sir Michael Lyons is considering such issues in his Inquiry into the funding of local government within the context of its wider functions and future role. We look forward to receiving Sir Michael Lyons' recommendations at the end of 2006.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice and guidance the Valuation Office Agency has given to local authority IT (a) departments and (b) suppliers in relation to the council tax revaluation in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

Phil Woolas: The information is as follows:
	(i) The Valuation Office Agency has provided no advice and guidance to local authority IT departments and suppliers in the relation to the council tax revaluation in England.
	(ii) Council tax revaluation in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Councillors (Pensions/Income)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes his Department and its predecessors have made to the (a) allowances, (b) salaries and (c) pensions for councillors since May 1997.

Phil Woolas: Since May 1997 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made a number of changes to the rules relating to allowances and pensions for councillors. There is no provision for the payment of salaries to councillors.
	The principal effects of these changes are as follows:
	To give responsibility for the setting of allowances to local authorities.
	To allow local authorities to pay allowances for the care of children and other dependants.
	To allow councillors access to the local government pension scheme.

Damages

John Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 16 November 2005, Official Report, column 1276W, on damages, if he will list the cases where the potential liabilities and damages were of such significance that the cases were brought to ministerial attention.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No cases fell into this category in the last year.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps are taken by the Department to support staff with mental ill-health.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) supports staff with mental ill-health while they are at work, while they are absent because of their illness and during their return to work. ODPM has an in-house Counselling and Support Service and a contracted out Occupational Health Adviser both of which offer support and advice. Additionally line managers and Human Resources offer support and advice to staff with mental ill-health.

Fire Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government's plans for regional fire control centres will require London to have a new fire control centre.

Jim Fitzpatrick: London already has a regional fire control room, which would be capable of being linked into the national network of regional centres. However, the London regional control centre was planned and set up before the events of 9/11 and before the current resilience criteria were drawn up. Consequently, it does not meet the resilience standards that the new control centres in the other regions will meet. Decisions on whether to move the existing regional control centre will be made in discussion with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.
	LFEPA recently affirmed their support of the Fire Control project.

Firelink Procurement Process

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the outcome of the Firelink procurement process will be announced.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The announcement of the Firelink preferred bidder was made on 11 November 2005. Subject to satisfactory resolution of some outstanding matters it is anticipated that the contract will be signed after the new year.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the (a) total and (b) net cost of (i) integrating the proposed identity card scheme into his Department's IT systems and (ii) the ongoing operation of the scheme within his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The overwhelming majority of the services which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) oversees are administered by local authorities, and ODPM is working with them to develop a business case for authentication and verification management, which could include use of the identity card. ODPM is represented on the ministerial committee on identity cards which oversees the work on benefits planning and realisation.

Land Charge Searches

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give local councils the power to increase the price of personal land charge searches.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Fees payable for personal searches of the local land charges register are set by the Lord Chancellor, with the consent of HM Treasury, under the Local Land Charges Act 1975. Keith Hill announced the Government's intention to review this arrangement on 10 February 2004, [Standing Committee E Report] column 574. We are now re-considering the form and content of the review in the light of the report by the Office of Fair Trading of their study into the market for property searches. The OFT report was published on 21 September.
	The Lord Chancellor's fees-setting power for all local land charges services in Wales, including personal search fees, was devolved to the National Assembly for Wales on 31 December 2004.

Media Monitoring

Philip Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Office and its predecessor Departments spent on media monitoring activities in each of the last eight financial years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Information in relation to its predecessor Departments is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Costs (£000—exclusive of VAT) are as follows:
	
		
			  National press cuttings Regional press cuttings Media monitoring unit (subscription to Cabinet Office) 
		
		
			 2002–03 (1 June-31 March) 151.4 54.1 30.1 
			 2003–04 164.1 73.9 41.2 
			 2004–05 204.9 74.6 49.0 
			 2005–06 (1 April-30 September) 110.1 39.4 26.5

Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

Iain Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the performance rating is of each local strategic partnership in receipt of neighbourhood renewal fund resources.

Phil Woolas: Local strategic partnerships are not awarded performance ratings, rather each LSP carries out a self assessment of performance against national PSA floor targets and local targets in addition to a review of their partnership management arrangements. This self assessment then helps inform the key areas for improvement. Each LSP awards itself an overall traffic light' assessment which reflects both progress made and challenges faced by each LSP. LSPs are encouraged to share these assessments at a local level—however at a national level we can say that 36 percent. have self assessed as 'green', 46 percent. as 'amber green' and 18 percent. as 'amber red'. The neighbourhood renewal unit plan to produce a full list of all assessments early in the New Year.

Private Sector Investments

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) location, (b) cost and (c) completion date if of each private finance initiative project within his responsibility, broken down by local authorities and grouped by region in England.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently has responsibility for the following private finance initiative projects and the details are as follows.
	
		
			 Region/authority Location Completion date Cost (capital value) £ million 
		
		
			 London
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Westminster, London January 2012 3 
			 London Fire, Emergency and Planning Authority London January 2021 145.5 
			 LB Croydon Croydon Central, North and South May 2010 27 
			 LB Hackney Hackney South and Shoreditch March 2032 25 
			 LB Tower Hamlets Bethnal Green and Bow March 2029 19.3 
			 LB Harrow Harrow East and West March 2006 0.9 
			 LB Barking and Dagenham Barking September 2030 35 
			 LB Lambeth Lambeth March 2007 9.6 
			 LB Islington Islington- vehicles depot March 2013 21.6 
			 LB Islington Islington-street properties February 2033 89 
			 LB Hammersmith and Fulham Hammersmith-housing February 2034 2.3 
			 LB Newham Canning Town-housing May 2035 41 
			 
			 South East
			 Brighton and Hove Brighton April 2028 0.5 
			 Kent CC Kent March 2009 7.4 
			 Reading BC North Whitley- housing February 2034 60 
			 
			 East of England
			 Norfolk CC Norfolk-salt barns April 2020 1.3 
			 Essex CC Clacton November 2035 4.2 
			 Norwich CC Norwich North January 2017 12.6 
			 Cambridgeshire Cambridge March 2012 11.9 
			 Wiltshire CC North Wiltshire March 2027 8 
			 Avon Somerset and Gloucestershire Fire Authorities Avonmouth March 2029 8 
			 Cornwall CC St. Ives, Falmouth, Camborne, Truro, St. Aaustell, North Cornwall and South East Cornwall March 2031 12.26 
			 
			 East Midlands
			 Derby CC Derby August 2006 1 
			 Derby CC Derby-housing July 2030 9.9 
			 North East Derbyshire Matlock-housing July 2013 1.7 
			 
			 West Midlands
			 Stoke-on-Trent CC Bentilee District Centre October 2030 8.35 
			 
			 North East
			 Redcar and Cleveland Redcar May 2027 13.72 
			 Sunderland CC Sunderland North and South September 2027 5.7 
			 
			 Tyne and Wear Fire and Civil Defence Authority Tyne and Wear August 2030 23 
			 
			 North West
			 Bolton MBC Bolton North East, South East and West September 2028 6.03 
			 Cheshire CC Ellesmere Port and Neston August 2033 1.1 
			 Copeland BC Copeland September 2029 8.12 
			 Liverpool CC Garston August 2027 20.4 
			 Trafford MBC Altrincham and sale West October 2028 16.9 
			 Manchester CC A6 Plymouth Grove-housing February 2033 61.6 
			 Greater Manchester Fire Service Streford-Greater Manchester October 2026 4.79 
			 Warrington BC Anson and Blenhiem Close August 2034 20 
			 Lancashire Fire Authority Accrington and Morecambe  3.49 
			 
			 Yorkshire and Humber
			 Leeds Swarecliffe-housing February 2035 113 
			 Sheffield Sheffield central February 2031 30.5 
			 SelbyDC Sherburn and Tadcaster February 2034 17 
			 North Yorkshire Fire Authority York and Easingwold March 2028 6.36

Regeneration (Thetford)

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on funding for and the impact of regeneration schemes in Thetford.

Yvette Cooper: Since 2000, the Breckland Community Economic Regeneration Scheme has provided some £12.7 million to fund projects in Thetford which are helping to renew the town centre and build on its cultural and heritage attractions. The skills and job prospects of local people are being supported through a range of vocational training schemes.

Rent Restructuring

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has instructed local authorities to introduce rent restructuring in this year's settlement; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 12 December 2005
	Rent restructuring was introduced in April 2002. It is a non-statutory scheme, and local authorities are not required to implement it, though they are strongly encouraged to do so by the way the housing revenue account subsidy system operates.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister carried out a three-year review of the policy during 2004 and the decision on the recommendations was announced on 7 November. The draft housing revenue account subsidy determination, which was issued for consultation at the same time, was prepared on that basis. The consultation closes at 10 am on Monday 12 December.
	Our intention is to issue the final housing revenue account subsidy determination before Christmas.

Statutory Instruments

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many statutory instruments introduced by his Department were (a) withdrawn, (b) amended by a further statutory instrument and (c) reprinted because of defective drafting in each session since 1997; and what steps he is taking and (ii) plans to take to prevent further such instances.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of statutory instruments introduced since May 2002 (when the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister came into being) which, by reason of defective drafting, were
	(a) withdrawn, is two,
	(b) amended by further statutory instruments, is seven, and
	(c) reprinted, is seven.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is (i) providing additional training for all those involved in drafting SIs. Increased checking is being undertaken by policy officials and the drafting lawyer, (ii) Lawyers in the ODPM are currently considering a further examination of the statutory instrument project planning process. They will also encourage all officials involved in the production of secondary legislation to be especially aware of the need to build in additional time for checking, particularly where there are peaks of activity, such as in February/March, in the run- up to the start of the financial year.

Support Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the extent of the duplication of (a) information collected and (b) needs assessment required for (i) supporting people funding and (ii) the single assessment process for care;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health about integrating the service provision arising from supporting people assessments and the single assessment process into a single users plan.

Phil Woolas: There is currently no standardised approach to information collection and needs assessment for the receipt of housing-related support through the supporting people programme. Nor are there currently standardised arrangements which cover supporting people and care assessments together. Arrangements are instead set by, and vary between, local authorities and between providers. There may be some duplication between the information collected for supporting people services and that collected through the Single Assessment Process, but in some cases this is already being handled in an integrated way.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's initial supporting people strategy—Creating Sustainable Communities: Supporting Independence"—makes clear our commitment to continue to move towards a streamlined and integrated assessment process which includes supporting people, care and other relevant services. This also takes forward the intention set out in Independence, Well-being and Choice" to build upon the Single Assessment Process and streamline assessments across agencies, and we will continue to work with Department of Health and other Departments as we take this work forward.

Support Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health about training of health and social care assessment staff in housing-related support services;
	(2)  what plans he has to promote the development and delivery of joint training on supporting people to health, care and housing staff.

Phil Woolas: With support and sponsorship from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, a pilot project has been carried out to test the desirability and practicability of establishing a professional qualification for those working in housing, care and support sector. This pilot concluded in March 2005, and we are considering as part of our work to develop a strategy for supporting people how to build on its success. We will continue to discuss this, and other aspects of the strategy work, with Department of Health.

Support Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to revise supporting people guidance to give greater coverage of health and care related needs.

Phil Woolas: Supporting people is a grant programme for the provision of housing-related support services (or, in excellent authorities, welfare services). It does not fund health or care services. The power of the Secretary of State to issue guidance relates to the administration and application of supporting people grants and, as such, guidance on the use of supporting people funding does not directly discuss meeting health or care related needs.
	Guidance is, however, clear on the need to ensure that supporting people services are properly aligned and linked with other relevant services, including health and care services. The work of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to develop a strategy for supporting people will allow us to consider whether and how guidance may be strengthened in this regard.

Vacant Property

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the annual value of the exemption from council tax of vacant property.

Phil Woolas: Properties may be exempt from council tax for a limited or indefinite period for a number of reasons, for example because the owner has recently died or because they are occupied only by students. Both vacant and occupied properties may be exempt. The information that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister collects from local authorities does not enable us to identify the number of properties in each band by type of exemption. We are not able therefore to calculate the value of exemptions granted in respect of those classes that relate only to vacant properties.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance the Valuation Office Agency has given its staff on respecting religious and cultural traditions of householders and shopkeepers when conducting an internal inspection for council tax or business rate valuation purposes.

Phil Woolas: Valuation Office Agency staff are aware of the Race Relations legislation.

TREASURY

Cash Machines

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with banks and building societies on encouraging the use of cash machines on which fees for use are not charged; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Treasury Ministers hold regular meetings with UK banks and building societies. These meetings have covered a range of issues, including free cash machines.
	There are over 32,000 free ATMs in the UK and 96 per cent. of cash withdrawals are free. Virtually all banks and building societies do not charge LINK cardholders for use of their ATMs.

Devolution

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what adjustments were made to the Scottish budget as a result of the agreement with the Scottish Executive referred to in Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly in each year of its operation; and what policy decisions resulted in each adjustment.

Des Browne: The funding arrangements for the Scottish Parliament are set out in the Statement of Funding Policy. Details of changes in the Scotland DEL are set out in figure 10 of the 2005 Scotland Office Annual Report.

Barnett Formula

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in his Department have worked on policy matters related to the Barnett formula in each of the last five years, broken down by grade.

Des Browne: The funding arrangements for the devolved administrations, including policy work related to the Barnett formula, are managed by the devolution branch of the Devolved Countries and Regions team in the Treasury. In the last five years the staffing of the branch has varied slightly and is currently 1 range E, 2 range D, 1 range C and 1 range B.

Asbestos

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have died of an asbestos-related illness in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of mesothelioma deaths in South Tyneside, the North East, and the United Kingdom each year from 1997 is given in the following table.
	
		Death from mesothelioma, 1997 to 2003
		
			 Number 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002(3) 2003(3) 
		
		
			 South Tyneside 15 12 8 15 18 9 8 
			 North East 126 100 119 123 154 127 112 
			 United Kingdom 1,406 1,582 1,661 1,671 1,919 1,908 1,922 
		
	
	(3) provisional.
	Source:
	HSE GB mesothelioma register, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).
	Lung cancer deaths caused by asbestos are clinically indistinguishable from those caused by other agents such as tobacco smoke. It is estimated that about the same number of lung cancer deaths due to asbestos occur each year as mesothelioma deaths.
	The number of deaths where asbestosis was specified as the underlying cause of death in South Tyneside, the North East, and the United Kingdom each year from 1997 is given in the following table.
	
		Death with asbestosis specified as underlying cause, 1997 to 2003
		
			 Number 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002(4) 2003(4) 
		
		
			 South Tyneside 3 0 0 0 1 2 5 
			 North East 11 8 10 13 14 20 19 
			 United Kingdom 70 70 68 80 94 126 122 
		
	
	(4) provisional.
	Source:
	HSE GB asbestosis register, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
	Death statistics for mesothelioma and asbestosis are not held in a form which allows data for individual UK constituencies to be readily available.

Contracted-out Rebate

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of the contracted-out rebate was in the last year for which figures are available; what proportion of UK gross domestic product that figure represents; and what the projected figures are in each case for (a) 2010, (b) 2020, (c) 2030, (d) 2040 and (e) 2050.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not available in the format required. Such information as is available is in the table.
	
		
			 Tax year Cost of contracted-out rebate (£ billion) Cost expressed as percentage of GDP 
		
		
			 2003–04 11.5 1.1 
			 2010–11 11.2 0.9 
			 2020–21 11.0 0.7 
			 2030–31 10.3 0.5 
			 2040–41 10.4 0.5 
			 2050–51 11.3 0.4 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. More up-to-date figures on the cost of the contracted-out rebate are available but the most recent for the GDP are those published in the Quinquennial Review of the National Insurance Fund. For comparison purposes it has been necessary, therefore, to use the same source for the cost of the rebate.
	2. Costs are for GB receipts and are in 2003–04 prices terms—the basis for projections in the Quinquennial Review of the National Insurance Fund.
	3. The Quinquennial Review does not extend to the Northern Ireland Insurance Fund so the figures provided are for GB rather than the UK.
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Quinquennial Review of the National Insurance Fund.

Departmental Staff (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by his Department in Coventry.

John Healey: The Treasury employs no staff in Coventry.

EU Budget (UK Contribution)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the United Kingdom has contributed to European Union funds as a percentage of its gross domestic product in each year since 1975.

Ivan Lewis: The Government does not as a matter of course produce figures for the United Kingdom's net contributions to the EC Budget as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product. The following table has been produced by taking outturn figures for the UK's net contribution to the EC Budget in each of the years 1975–76 to 2004–05 and dividing these by the latest available GDP data for the year in question.
	
		
			  UK net contribution as percentage of GDP 
		
		
			 1975–76 0.02 
			 1976–77 0.18 
			 1977–78 0.38 
			 1978–79 0.46 
			 1979–80 0.45 
			 1980–81 0.10 
			 1981–82 0.09 
			 1982–83 0.27 
			 1983–84 0.32 
			 1984–85 0.35 
			 1985–86 0.28 
			 1986–87 0.32 
			 1987–88 0.43 
			 1988–89 0.25 
			 1989–90 0.48 
			 1990–91 0.39 
			 1991–92 0.16 
			 1992–93 0.36 
			 1993–94 0.34 
			 1994–95 0.24 
			 1995–96 0.54 
			 1996–97 0.30 
			 1997–98 0.32 
			 1998–99 0.48 
			 1999–2000 0.37 
			 2000–01 0.45 
			 2001–02 0.15 
			 2002–03 0.29 
			 2003–04 0.30 
			 2004–05 0.34

Income Tax

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons paid income tax at the higher rate in each financial year since January 1995; and how much was raised by the higher rate in current prices in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the estimated number of individuals who paid income tax at the higher rate in each financial year since 1990–91 is shown in table 2.1 'Number of individual income taxpayers' on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website, http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2–1.xls.
	Information on the estimated amount of income tax liabilities in constant (2005–06) prices, before deducting tax credits, is in the table.
	
		Income tax liabilities for higher rate taxpayers(5)
		
			 £ billion 
			  Amounts in constant (2005–06) prices 
		
		
			 1997–98 42.5 
			 1998–99 48.6 
			 1999–2000 52.6 
			 2000–01 61.2 
			 2001–02 61.9 
			 2002–03(6) 61.6 
			 2003–04(7) 65.5 
			 2004–05(7) 69.2 
			 2005–06(7) 73.2 
		
	
	(5) Estimates after personal allowances but before tax credits are deducted.
	(6) 2002–03 is the latest year for which data are available.
	(7) Estimates for 2003–04 to 2005–06 are based on the 2002–03 SPI projected forward in line with Budget 2005 HM Treasury assumptions.
	Similar information for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 is not available.
	The income tax information is based upon the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI).

Inland Revenue Staff (Computer Misuse)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue staff in Northern Ireland have been dismissed as a result of misuse of computer systems in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The former Inland Revenue started recording computer misuse information on a central database in 2003. It does not hold figures for earlier years. The periods shown are calendar years.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2003 4 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 0 
		
	
	The statistic for 2005 is the information held as at 12 December 2005. It is possible there may be more cases for 2005.

Iraq

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money the British Government have spent on military operations in Iraq since 20 March 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The net additional costs of military operations in Iraq are captured on an annual basis and published by the Ministry of Defence in their annual report and accounts. The costs in fiscal years 200203 through to 200405 were:
	
		Net additional costs of military operations
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200203 847 
			 200304 1,311 
			 200405 910

Iraq

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) original estimated and (b) actual cost of the war in Iraq and ancillary operations has been in each year since the beginning of operations; what the reasons were for the difference in each year; whether the costs were met from (i) the Ministry of Defence budget and (ii) elsewhere in each year; from which budget lines costs were met in each year; and what economies have been made to offset those costs.

John Reid: I have been asked to reply.
	The costs of operations are calculated on a net additional basis and audited figures are published each year in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts. Costs for financial years 200203, 200304 and 200405 for operations in Iraq were:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200203 847 
			 200304 1,311 
			 200405 910 
			 Total 3,068 
		
	
	The respective estimates requested for operations in Iraq in the spring supplementary estimates and voted by Parliament for the above years were:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200203 1,000 
			 200304 1,539 
			 200405 975 
			 Total 3,514 
		
	
	The differences between estimates and final outturn figures are due to changing operational requirements and associated troop numbers as outlined in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts.
	The net additional costs of military operations in Iraq are funded from the Treasury reserve and not through re-prioritisation of the defence budget.

Lyons Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a break down by (a) Department and (b) location of the 6,300 relocations as a result of the Lyons Review announced in the pre-Budget report.

Des Browne: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Department Relocations completed as at 30 September 2005 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 0 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 20 
			 Department for Constitutional Affairs 0 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 0 
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 131 
			 Department for Education and Skills 94 
			 Department for International Development 74 
			 Department for Transport 47 
			 Department of Health 343 
			 Department of Trade and Industry 194 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 3,069 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 61 
			 HM Revenue and Customs 480 
			 HM Treasury 6 
			 Home Office 434 
			 Ministry of Defence 1,229 
			 Northern Ireland Office 7 
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 93 
			 Office for National Statistics 65 
			 Total 6,347 
		
	
	
		
			 Receiving location Relocations completed as at 30 September 2005 
		
		
			 Catterick 1,229 
			 Wrexham 551 
			 Liverpool 503 
			 Blackpool 435 
			 Pembroke 370 
			 Newcastle 352 
			 Cwmbran 304 
			 Sheffield 223 
			 Makerfield 198 
			 Manchester 191 
			 Leeds 155 
			 Cardiff 140 
			 Bradford 129 
			 Rugby 103 
			 Bournemouth 102 
			 Glasgow 102 
			 Bristol 75 
			 Billingham 70 
			 Milton Keynes 61 
			 Birmingham 60 
			 Truro 51 
			 Workington 50 
			 Calder Bridge 50 
			 Newport 49 
			 Bridgend 40 
			 Dundee 40 
			 Halifax 31 
			 Worcester 29 
			 York 25 
			 Others(8) 629 
			 Total 6,347 
		
	
	(8) Departments have confirmed 6,347 relocations completed by 30 September 2005. The location breakdown of a small number of these moves is presently being confirmed by Departments.

Self-invested Personal Pensions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will publish the information on which he based his decision announced in the pre-Budget report to rescind the widening of self-invested personal pension plans eligible assets legislated for in the Finance Act 2004;
	(2)  on what dates meetings were held with representatives of the financial services industry at which his Department gathered information to assess the impact of the change in the rules concerning self-invested personal pension plans eligible assets announced in the pre-Budget report; and which (a) Ministers and (b) officials were present at each;
	(3)  if he will estimate the cost to providers of self-invested pension plans (SIPPs) of his change in the rules concerning eligible investments set out in the Finance Act 2004; and if he will publish the regulatory assessment made for (a) the initial change to SIPPS rules and (b) the decision announced in the pre-Budget report.

Ivan Lewis: In order to prevent the potential abuse of the pension tax simplification rules, where people could claim tax relief in relation to pension contributions into self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) for the purpose of funding purchases of holiday and second homes for their or their family's personal use, the Government announced in the pre-Budget report that, from 6 April 2006, SIPPs and all other forms of self-directed pension schemes will be prohibited from obtaining tax advantages when investing in residential property, and certain other assets such as fine wines.
	The legislation to bring the PBR announcement into effect will be included in Finance Bill 2006. The regulatory impact assessment assessing the impact of the whole of pension simplification was published in April 2004.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestos

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has received from the Health and Safety Commission of the effects of different asbestos stripping techniques on worker mortality.

Anne McGuire: Proposals for asbestos regulations made by the Health and Safety Commission to the Minister are supported by regulatory impact assessments and risk assessments. The risk assessment in the current HSC consultation document Proposals for Revised Asbestos Regulations and an approved code of practice (CD 205) includes estimates of asbestos-related worker deaths and takes account of a range of factors, including different types of work with asbestos.

Asbestos

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what advice he has received from the Health and Safety Commission on the most effective dust suppression techniques available for removing asbestos; and if he will list the acceptable methods of asbestos removal in order of effectiveness as a dust suppressing technique;
	(2)  what advice he has received from the Health andSafety Commission on the circumstances in which dry stripping of asbestos-containing materials is permissible.

Anne McGuire: The Secretary of State has not received specific advice on dust suppression techniques, and circumstances in which dry stripping of asbestos containing materials is permissible. However, the current Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP) under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002-Work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating and asbestos insulating board (L28), and Work with asbestos which does not normally require a licence (L27) were approved by the Health and Safety Commission in 2002, with the consent of the then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
	Under the regulations and ACOPs, employers are required to prevent exposure to asbestos and where this is not reasonably practicable, to reduce exposure to as low a level as reasonably practicable. When exposure can not be prevented, employers must chose a working method or combination of methods which reduce exposure to the lowest levels reasonably practicable and document these in the written risk assessment and plan of work.
	Acceptable methods of asbestos removal and the effectiveness of dust suppression techniques will depend on a range of factors to be considered as part of the risk assessment for the job in hand. They include the type of asbestos material, its condition, and the amount to be removed. Often a combination of methods will be needed. Paragraphs 6774 of L28 (for work with licensed materials) and paragraphs 7476 of L27 (for work with non-licensed materials) set out methods for work with different types asbestos containing materials.
	These paragraphs, and paragraph 29(f) of L28 also include references to dry stripping. Although they state that there may be some exceptional circumstances where dry stripping of licensable materials may be justifiable, the Health and Safety Executive has not encountered such circumstances.
	Further guidance on reduced dust methods of working can be found in the Health and Safety Executive publication Controlled asbestos stripping techniques for work requiring a licence (HSG 189/1), and for work with non-licensable materials in Introduction to asbestos essentials: Comprehensive guidance on working with asbestos in the building maintenance and allied trades (HSG 213); Asbestos essentials task manual: task guidance sheets for the building maintenance and allied trades (HSG 210); and Working with asbestos cement (HSG189/2).

Asbestos

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which elements of the licensing requirements for contractors involved with the wet stripping of asbestos using equipment conforming to BSI PAS 611:2004 are mandatory.

Anne McGuire: The standard conditions attached to licences issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 to asbestos removal companies for work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating or asbestos insulating board include (a) fourteen days notice in writing to the appropriate enforcing authority of work to be undertaken; (b) that notice to include details of the work, including a suitable and sufficient written statement of the method of work to be used, and a suitable and sufficient written specification for the equipment for the protection and decontamination of those engaged in asbestos work.
	Where new wet injection equipment is purchased, HSE has advised contractors that it should comply with BSI publicly available specification (PAS) 60 equipment used in the controlled removal of asbestos containing materials, Part 1 controlled wetting of asbestos containing materials-specification. However, the PAS is not a mandatory standard.

Asbestos

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have died of an asbestos-related illness in (a) Tamworth constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) the West Midlands in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: Death statistics for mesothelioma and asbestosis are not held in a form which allows data for individual parliamentary constituencies to be readily available. However, in the tables that follow figures for the smaller area of Tamworth local authority are provided.
	Deaths from mesothelioma, 19972003
	The number of mesothelioma deaths in Tamworth local authority, Staffordshire, and West Midlands each year from 1997 is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Tamworth local authority Staffordshire West Midlands 
		
		
			 1997 0 17 100 
			 1998 1 18 112 
			 1999 1 14 99 
			 2000 4 22 132 
			 2001 3 28 110 
			 2002(9) 2 24 130 
			 2003(9) 1 25 133 
		
	
	(9) Provisional.
	Source:
	HSE mesothelioma register
	Deaths from lung cancer due to asbestos
	Lung cancer deaths caused by asbestos are clinically indistinguishable from those caused by other agents such as tobacco smoke. It is estimated that about the same number of lung cancer deaths due to asbestos occur each year as mesothelioma deaths.
	Deaths with asbestosis specified as underlying cause, 19972003
	The number of deaths where asbestosis was specified as the underlying cause of death in Tamworth local authority, Staffordshire, and West Midlands each year from 1997 is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Tamworth local authority Staffordshire West Midlands 
		
		
			 1997 0 1 1 
			 1998 0 2 2 
			 1999 0 2 4 
			 2000 0 1 6 
			 2001 0 2 4 
			 2002(10) 0 2 4 
			 2003(10) 0 0 3 
		
	
	(10) Provisional.
	Source:
	HSE asbestosis register

Asperger's Syndrome

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to help people with Asperger's syndrome in Swindon into employment.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to reply to the hon. member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 14 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what steps the Department is taking to help people with Asperger's syndrome in Swindon into employment. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	There are no arrangements that are specific to Swindon to help customers with Asperger's syndrome into employment. However, all customers with Asperger's syndrome are dealt with on an individual basis. If required, in addition to the range of support offered to all our customers, they can access further support from specialist advisers such as Disability Employment Advisers or Specialist Incapacity Benefit Advisers. These specialist advisers meet with the customer and work alongside other support workers or their GP to agree a plan of action tailored to their individual needs to progress them towards employment.
	If deemed necessary the customer can also be referred to specialist partner organisations who deliver a variety of provision including Work Preparation, WORKSTEP and New Deal for Disabled People, for additional support. This could include personal development, work placements, work experience and help with applying for work, including interview support.
	I hope this is helpful.

Benefit Exit Rates

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2005, Official Report, columns 136566W, what the quarterly average exit rate for (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disability allowance was in each quarter since May 1997 in (i) Pathways to Work pilot jobcentre plus districts, (ii) the UK excluding Pathways to Work pilot jobcentre plus districts and (iii) the UK.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the tables.
	
		IB/SDA working age terminations as a proportion of working age (WA)
		
			  GB WA Caseload at start of quarter GB WA Terminations in the quarter Terminations as a percentage of GB caseload at start of quarter 
		
		
			 November 2003 2,788.9 184.0 7 
			 February 2004 2,790.5 168.6 6 
			 May 2004 2,788.0 170.9 6 
			 August 2004 2,782.5 173.6 6 
			 November 2004 2,783.3 173.4 6 
			 February 2005 2,779.1 174.9 6 
			 May 2005 2,763.7 129.4 5 
		
	
	
		IB/SDA working age terminations as a proportion of Pathways to Work area
		
			Pathways 
			  Pathways WA Caseload at start of quarter Pathways WA Terminations in the quarter Terminations as a percentage of Pathways caseload at start of quarter 
		
		
			 November 2003 244.1 15.9 6 
			 February 2004 243.5 16.0 7 
			 May 2004 242.7 17.5 7 
			 August 2004 240.8 17.5 7 
			 November 2004 239.5 16.3 7 
			 February 2005 238.1 16.5 7 
			 May 2005 236.3 12.3 5 
		
	
	
		IB/SDA working age terminations as a proportion of non-Pathways to Work area
		
			  Non-Pathways WA Caseload at start of quarter Non-Pathways WA Terminations in the quarter Non-Pathways Terminations as a percentage of Non-Pathways caseload at start of quarter 
		
		
			 November 2003 2,544.8 168.2 7 
			 February 2004 2,547.0 152.5 6 
			 May 2004 2,545.3 153.4 6 
			 August 2004 2,541.7 156.1 6 
			 November 2004 2,543.8 157.1 6 
			 February 2005 2,541.0 158.5 6 
			 May 2005 2,527.4 117.1 5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100 and are expressed in thousands.
	2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	3. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	4. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
	5. Local authorities and Government office regions are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
	6. Pathways to work pilot areas were introduced in October 2003.
	Sources:
	CaseloadsDWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.
	TerminationsDWP Information Directorate 5 per cent. samples.

Benefit Fraud

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff have been employed on benefit fraud enforcement in each of the last eight years, broken down by type of benefit; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Every person employed in the DWP has a role in enforcing the requirements of the benefits system. Our preventive structures are intended to make our systems robust against fraud. All claims are subject to verification and all statements made by our customers are open to challenge where it appears that they may be incorrect.

Benefit Payments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the total number of job entries by claimants of incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance in the UK (a) returned to incapacity benefits and (b) claimed jobseeker's allowance within (i) one month, (ii) two months, (iii) six months and (iv) 12 months, in the latest period for which data is available.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available.

Benefit Payments

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of inactive benefits in Tamworth constituency moved back to work in 200405.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The Department for Work and Pensions Research Report Number 244Destination of benefit leavers 2004showed that nationally, 62 per cent. of claimants leaving income support, incapacity benefit or jobseeker's allowance entered employment of 16 hours or more a week. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

Benefits Office Closures

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make funding available to the voluntary sector benefits advice organisations that have witnessed an increase in their workload since the benefits office closure programme.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 5 December 2005
	The Department does not, and has not previously, provided funding for voluntary sector benefits advice organisations. We have no plans to change this position.

Child Maintenance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families received child maintenance payments in (a) Brent and (b) London in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The information cannot be broken down to the geographical level requested.

Child Poverty

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from Save the Children about the number of children living in severe and long-term poverty.

Margaret Hodge: I have not received any representations from Save the Children. However, my officials are in regular contact with them, and were consulted by Save the Children on their recently published report Britain's Poorest Children Revisited.

Child Poverty

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of children who will be living in poverty in winter 200506.

Margaret Hodge: The seventh annual Opportunity for all report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators.
	Information regarding the number of children living in low-income households is published in Department for Work and Pension's publication Households Below Average Income (HBAI), copies of which are available in the Library.
	Figures for 200506 are not yet available and are planned for publication in 2007.

Child Support Agency

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many uncleared Child Support Agency cases are awaiting processing in East Dunbartonshire.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available at the geographical level requested.

Child Support Agency

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the performance of the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: While there have been some improvements in the Child Support Agency's performance we are not satisfied with its overall level.
	A copy of the most recent Child Support Agency Quarterly Statistical Summary, which gives information on the agency's performance, has been placed in the Library and is available on line at www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/csa.asp.
	The Child Support Agency's chief executive, Stephen Geraghty, is currently undertaking a root and branch review of the agency. He will report to Ministers and we will make announcements shortly.

Child Support Agency

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the benefits system of the unresolved Child Support Agency cases.

James Plaskitt: We do not have sufficient information on these cases to make a robust estimate. Not all of the unresolved cases will reach a calculation, and for those cases where the Agency will make a calculation we have no information about the amount of maintenance that will be charged and paid.

Child Support Agency

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Child Support Agency cases were in arrears in each year from 1997 to 2005 in (a) England, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) Wellingborough.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available at the geographical level requested.

Child Support Agency

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints were registered with the Child Support Agency in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: This information requested is not available at the geographical level requested.

Child Support Agency

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the performance of the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: While there have been some improvements in the Child Support Agency's performance we are still not satisfied with the overall level.
	A copy of the most recent Child Support Agency Quarterly Statistical Summary, which gives information on the Agency's performance, has been placed in the Library and is available on line at www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/csa.asp
	The Child Support Agency's chief executive, Stephen Geraghty, is currently undertaking a root and branch review of the Agency. He will report to the Ministers and we will make announcements shortly.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when (a) he and (b) his officials last met officials from HM Revenue and Customs to discuss the future of the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: Since the Secretary of State's appointment on 2 November 2005 he has not discussed Child Support with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials. However, departmental officials meet regularly with HMRC to look at a range of issues.

Children's Rights (Disabilities Convention)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Government are taking to ensure children's rights are fully and appropriately addressed in the final text of the forthcoming UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 21 November 2005
	The UK, with our EU partners, is committed to ensuring that the rights of disabled children are effectively addressed in the UN convention, taking into account the fact that there is an existing convention on the rights of children. At the most recent meeting of the UN Committee tasked with drafting the convention, the UK acting as EU President proposed text regarding the general obligations of states in respect of disabled children. We believe that the proposed text will ensure that the rights of disabled children are recognised across the convention in relation to all the obligations on states. The UK is working to ensure that this wording is included in the final text.

Civil Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many departmental civil service jobs are located in Coventry.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 5 December 2005
	As at 30 October 2005 a total of 483 departmental staff (full-time equivalent, including temporary staff) were located in Coventry.

Corporate Pension Liabilities

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of whether corporate pension liabilities are overstated under FRS17.

Stephen Timms: No such assessment has now been made
	There are a number of ways of estimating pension fund deficits. Estimates of deficits calculated using FRS17 are considered (although there is no consensus) to represent approximately 80 per cent. of the estimated costs of securing a pension scheme's accrued liabilities through the purchase of annuities and deferred annuities from an insurance company (often referred to as the full buy-out cost).

Data Control

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what part of his Department has overall responsibility for data control.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 12 December 2005
	The Department's chief information officer has overall responsibility for any risk to the Department's data.

Data Protection Act

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints concerning his Department have been made to the Information Commissioner with regard to the Data Protection Act 1998 since it came into force.

Anne McGuire: Since the Data Protection Act came into force on 1 March 2000, 220 letters have been received from the Information Commissioner following complaints.

Departmental Expenditure

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Department's expenditure on research activities was in each year since 2000.

James Plaskitt: The Department's expenditure on research is given in the following table. The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001, therefore figures have been provided from the financial year 200102 onwards.
	
		 million
		
			 Financial year Expenditure 
		
		
			 200102 11 .8 
			 200203 10.2 
			 200304 12.5 
			 200405 14.2

Departmental Targets

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he expects to be able to draw the data required to measure 2004 public service agreement target 5 from consistent data sources.

Anne McGuire: Yes, the data will come from sources which provide a basis for consistent comparisons. For health and safety outcomes, these will include reports from employers and others under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and other sources, supported by data on risk control from workplace surveys and assessments by inspectors.
	For the major hazard industries, they will be based on reports of precursor incidents (occurrences which do not in general result in death or injury but have the potential to be far more serious) in the nuclear industry, offshore oil and gas sectors and onshore hazardous installations.
	Further details are given in a technical note published on the HSE website, http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/plans/sr2004.htm.

Departmental Targets

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he uses (a) income before housing costs and (b) income after housing costs when measuring the number of children in relative low income households for the purposes of measuring performance against 2004 public service agreement target 1.

Margaret Hodge: To ease international comparisons, the 2004 PSA child poverty target will be measured on a before housing costs basis. However, figures after housing costs will continue to be given equal prominence in the households below average income series.

Disability Handbook

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether medical representatives from patient organisations will be included in the panel re-writing the draft entry on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis for the Disability Handbook.

Anne McGuire: As with the other new medical guidance for the Disability Handbook the draft chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalitis (CFS/ME) guidance was prepared in conjunction with medical experts. The guidance is evidence-based and represents our current understanding of this condition. Officials have met with groups representing people with CFS/ME on two occasions and sought their views. Many of their helpful comments have already been incorporated in the guidance and we are still considering comments made at the second meeting.

Economically Inactive People

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Beverley and Holderness are economically inactive.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 14 December 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning economic inactivity. I am replying in her absence. (37436)
	Annual Population Survey data, for the 12 months ending March 2005, shows that the number of people of working age resident in the Beverley and Holderness constituency who were economically inactive was estimated to be 14,000. This corresponds to 23 per cent. of the resident working age population.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Education and Training

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training is provided to Jobcentre Plus advisers to assist them in working with young people living independently who wish to pursue further education.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 14 December 2005
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question concerning what training is provided to Jobcentre Plus advisers to assist them in working with young people living independently who wish to pursue further education. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus has in place a comprehensive programme of blended learning solutions to build adviser capability. The learning materials have been designed in such a way as to equip the adviser with the full range of knowledge and skills required to support the customer's jobsearch activity and successful movement into employment, or further education.
	Advisers assist young people to receive training via the New Deal for Young People learning package. The primary focus of this learning is to help staff establish customers' eligibility to claim Jobseekers Allowance. However, as part of the learning process, Personal Advisers are instructed on the appropriate procedure when a young person is interested in undertaking further education.
	This is usually instigated by referral to the Connexions service in England, or the relevant careers service elsewhere in the UK (for example Careers Scotland). These organisations are the typical gateway into learning for young people.
	The Jobcentre Plus Adviser training focuses on supporting and allowing the relevant careers service to support the training needs and aspirations of this specific customer group.
	I hope this is helpful.

EU Work at Heights Directive

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the legislative progress of the implementation of the EU Work at Heights Directive; and if he will publish a regulatory impact assessment for its implementation in the United Kingdom.

Anne McGuire: The EU Directive 2001/45/EC on the selection and use of work equipment for working at height was implemented in Great Britain by the Work at Height Regulations 2005. These regulations were laid in Parliament on 16 March 2005 and came into force on 6 April 2005. It was implemented in Northern Ireland by the Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005, which came into operation 11 July. Gibraltar is well advanced in producing implementing legislation.
	A regulatory impact assessment on the implementation of the Regulations in Great Britain was lodged in the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries on 16 March 2005. A supplement on the impact of the Directive in Northern Ireland is available on request from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland at 83 Ladas Drive, Belfast BT6 9FR.
	Both sets of regulations do not apply to instructing or leading others in climbing, caving or similar activities. Arrangements for the application of the directive to workers in these activities are still under discussion with representatives from the sector.

Final Salary Pension Schemes

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government is taking to minimise employers' usage of pension fund holidays in final salary pension schemes.

Stephen Timms: New scheme funding requirements will replace the minimum funding requirement for private sector defined benefit occupational pension schemes from 30 December 2005. This flexible framework will give trustees greater leverage in framing the scheme's funding strategy and determining the contributions paid by the employer. In addition, from 6 April 2006 current HM Revenue and Customs requirements for pension schemes to reduce an actuarial surplus will be abolished. This will remove a factor which may have played a part in some decisions to allow pension fund contribution holidays in the past. We do not believe, however, that it would be appropriate to prevent a contribution holiday where the scheme is sufficiently well-funded, and the trustees and the sponsoring employer consider that it is appropriate in the circumstances.

Health and Safety

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is promoting in conjunction with other Government Departments to ensure that suitably qualified health and safety advisers in the public service are encouraged to achieve the status of chartered health and safety practitioners; and how many of them have this status.

Anne McGuire: The Government are fully supportive of the introduction of a chartered qualification for professional health and safety advisors and would recommend all advisors, where appropriate, to work towards achieving this qualification. There are currently about 6,000 chartered practioners in the UK. The Government hold no figures for the number working in the public sector.

Health and Safety

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has held with trade unions about industrial relations issues concerning the HSE.

Anne McGuire: The HSE is in frequent discussion with those trade unions representing members of its staff, over the full range of employee relations. Discussions include those held through the departmental Whitley structure; negotiations, such as the annual pay negotiations which are currently ongoing; and more informal working groups on specific topics.

Incapacity Benefit

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of medical examinations for incapacity benefit claimants in each year since 1997; and how often on average existing claimants have been re-examined .

Anne McGuire: Information about the cost of medical examinations for incapacity benefit is confidential and cannot be disclosed as to do so may prejudice the commercial interests of the Department and/or its suppliers.
	Information about the frequency of re-examinations is not available and could o be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	People are re-referred at varying intervals from three months to five years on the basis of medical advice about the severity of a person's condition and the likelihood of an improvement in their condition in the future.

Incapacity Benefit

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed incapacity benefit on the grounds of poor mental health in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance claimants with a diagnosis in the mental and behavioural disorders category: Great Britain.
		
			 May Number 
		
		
			 1997 735,000 
			 1998 790,600 
			 1999 833,700 
			 2000 873,300 
			 2001 938,800 
			 2002 987,000 
			 2003 1,032,000 
			 2004 1,070,200 
			 2005 1,086,100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. 'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance (SDA), including IB credits-only cases.
	3. Figures for the years 1997 to 1999 have been produced using the 5 per cent. data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA totals.
	4. Diagnoses are taken from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD10).
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. Samples from 1997 to 1999 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS)100 per cent. data thereafter.

Incapacity Benefit

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of people claiming incapacity benefit who were claiming jobseeker's allowance immediately prior to claiming incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: The most recent available information is in the following table.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) commencements previously claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for the period 1 March 2004 to 28 February 2005.
		
			   Total IB commencements   Claimed JSA within previous 30 days Percentage of IB commencements that claimed JSA within previous 30 days. 
		
		
			 659,000 131,000 19.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures include JSA claims that have terminated in the 30 days prior to the IB claim commencing.
	3. Due to note 2, it does not exclusively include those who were claiming JSA immediately prior to IB. It is possible for a claimant to have flowed from JSA to another benefit/work and then to IB within the 30 day period allowed for the computer systems to be updated.
	4. The number of incapacity benefit commencements that flowed from JSA has been given. This figure may include some individuals who have flowed from JSA to IB more than once over this period.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples.

Incapacity Benefit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people have been receiving incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many people have claimed the long-term rate of incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants in the Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside council area, the North East Government office region (GOR) and Great Britain; each May since 1997
		
			  Great Britain North East GOR South Tyneside Jarrow 
		
		
			 May 1997 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,849,200 198,600 11,900 5,700 
			 IB long-term rate 1,527,900 119,000 6,900 3,400 
			  
			 May 1998 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,795,500 189,300 11,800 5,700 
			 IB long-term rate 1,452,800 111,000 6,700 3,400 
			  
			 May 1999 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,755,200 186,700 11,300 5,700 
			 IB long-term rate 1,386,200 103,800 6,400 3,600 
			  
			 May 2000 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,737,800 184,600 11,500 5,400 
			 IB long-term rate 1,331,600 101,300 6,300 3,300 
			  
			 May 2001 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,808,600 189,500 11,700 5,900 
			 IB long-term rate 1,338,000 101,500 6,300 3,300 
			  
			 May 2002 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,822,200 189,900 11,700 6,000 
			 IB long-term rate 1,358,400 102,700 6,200 3,300 
			  
			 May 2003 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,829,700 188,800 11,500 5,900 
			 IB long-term rate 1,344,800 100,400 6,000 3,200 
			  
			 May 2004 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,825,000 184,500 11,100 5,900 
			 IB long-term rate 1,337,000 97,400 5,700 3,100 
			  
			 May 2005 
			 IB/SDA all rates 2,784,000 178,300 10,600 5,700 
			 IB long-term rate 1,309,000 93,500 5,400 3,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for the years 1997 to 1999 have been produced using 5 per cent. data and have been rated up in accordance with the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. incapacity benefit/severe disability allowance totals.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	3. 'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance (including IB credits only cases).
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples from 1997 to 1999 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data thereafter.

Incapacity Benefit

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Ribble Valley are claiming incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: As at May 2005 there were 3,400 people claiming incapacity benefit or severe disability allowance in the Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is to the Department of a medical examination for incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 5 December 2005
	This information is confidential and cannot be disclosed as to do so may prejudice the commercial interests of the Department and/or its suppliers.

Office for Disability Issues

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2005, Official Report, column 798W, on the Office for Disability Issues, what criteria his Department uses to decide whether a consultation will be (a) an informal exercise and (b) a formal consultation; in which circumstances each are used; for what reasons his Department decided the consultation on the establishment of the Office for Disability Issues would be an informal exercise; and how his Department communicates to relevant individuals and organisations the status of a consultation.

Anne McGuire: All Government Departments follow the Cabinet Office Guidelines on consultation. These guidelines clearly state how Departments should run formal consultations and are available in the Library (Cabinet Office Guidance on Consultations). However as this was an informal consultation and involved no change to either statute or regulations, the formal guidance was not applicable.
	We were determined to ensure as many disabled people as possible could engage with us, and through the informal consultation we had many opportunities to engage, through regional consultation events, leaflets, intensive calls to disability organisations, signposts on local authority, Disability Rights Commission, Disability Now and You able websites and press advertising. We offered people the opportunity to express views by e-mail, in writing, by telephone, in various languages including Welsh and Braille and had copies of the consultation available in easy read and audiotape. We employed an external research company to ensure all responses were treated fairly and in unbiased fashion.

Pathways to Work

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Pathway to Work participants have moved into jobs in each of the pilot areas.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The information is not available in the format requested because we only know about Jobcentre Plus and, NDDP job broker job entries. We also have information on return to work credit awards. However, we can provide information on job entries recorded through these channels and this is provided in the following table. The total number of job entries that actually occur will be higher than this as there will be a significant number of benefit leavers that have found jobs that were not the result of a direct intervention from Jobcentre Plus. The job entry proportion, as shown in the table, is an under-estimate of the true underlying job entry rate due to the fact that more recent cases will have had less time to find a job.
	
		
			  All customers Customers attending initial eight week WFI Customers starting on Choices programme 
			 District Total Number with job entry Proportion with job entry (percentage) Total Number with job entry Proportion with job entry (percentage) Total Number with job entry Proportion with job entry (percentage) 
		
		
			 Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute 16,970 2,960 17 5,780 1,190 21 2,560 1,050 41 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 12,170 1,510 12 3,660 470 13 1,640 570 35 
			 East Lancashire 15,200 2,030 13 5,350 780 15 1,670 560 34 
			 Bridgend and Rhondda, Cynon, Taf 18,420 3,040 17 6,070 1,030 17 3,140 1,540 49 
			 Derbyshire 27,040 3,320 12 7,610 1,300 17 3,120 970 31 
			 Essex 25,660 1,910 7 6,900 720 10 2,230 560 25 
			 Somerset 9,490 1,270 13 2,720 450 17 1,330 580 44 
			 Total 124,950 16,040 13 38,090 5,940 16 15,690 5,830 37 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Participants are defined as anyone who has contacted Jobcentre Plus about making a claim for incapacity benefits plus those existing claimants who have volunteered to participate.
	2. Job entrants include all recorded job entries plus return to work credit awards for which no job entry is yet recorded.
	3. Data are to the end of August 2005.
	4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Figures are presented for all customers entering the pilot, those customers who attend the initial work focused interview after eight weeks and those customers taking up an element of the choices package. All customers making a claim to incapacity benefit in the pilot districts are defined as participants as they are subject to the Pathways to Work regime. However a significant proportion of customers leave benefit early stages of the claim and therefore do not attend the initial work focused interview where the full range of support is explained.

Pathways to Work

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the Pathways to Work pilots currently in operation.

Margaret Hodge: The Pathways to Work pilots are operating in 11 areas.
	The first three started operating in October 2003 and are in Bridgend, Renfrewshire and Derbyshire.
	Further pilots in Gateshead and South Tyneside; Somerset; Essex and East Lancashire started in April 2004. Four more pilot areas were rolled out in October 2005 in Glasgow, Cumbria, Lancashire West, and Tees Valley.
	A further 10 pilots in Durham, Lanarkshire and East Dunbarton, Staffordshire, Barnsley and Rotherham (to be merged with Doncaster), Manchester (to be merged with Salford and Trafford), Greater Mersey, Liverpool (to be merged with Wirral), Eastern Valleys, Swansea Bay (to be merged with West Wales), and City of Sunderland will roll-out in 2006.

Pensioner Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of pensioners were living in absolute poverty in each region of the UK in each of the last 30 years.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 12 December 2005
	The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators. Detailed information about the number and proportion of pensioners living in low income households for Great Britain is available in Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 199495200304, available in the Library.
	Robust figures on pensioners in low income, broken down by region, for each of the last 30 years are not available. Three-year rolled averages for the number and proportion of pensioners in absolute low income are available for the Government office regions, Scotland and Wales from 199495. These are set out in the following tables. Equivalent data is not available for Northern Ireland, as the necessary information has only been collected for two financial years.
	An individual in absolute low income is defined as someone living in a household with income below 60 per cent. of 199697 median income, adjusted for inflation.
	
		Number of pensioners in absolute low income -- (millions)
		
			  Three-year rolling averages 
			  199495 to 199697 199596 to 199798 199697 to 199899 199798 to 19992000 199899 to 20002001 19992000 to 200102 200001 to 200203 200102 to 200304 
		
		
			 Before housing costs 
			 North East 0.12 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.07 0.06 0.04 
			 North West and Merseyside 0.30 0.28 0.27 0.26 0.23 0.20 0.18 0.16 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 0.24 0.23 0.21 0.20 0.18 0.15 0.12 0.11 
			 East Midlands 0.18 0.19 0.18 0.18 0.16 0.15 0.14 0.12 
			 West Midlands 0.21 0.22 0.22 0.20 0.19 0.17 0.16 0.15 
			 Eastern 0.25 0.21 0.20 0.20 0.19 0.17 0.14 0.12 
			 London 0.20 0.20 0.19 0.17 0.16 0.15 0.13 0.12 
			 South East 0.29 0.28 0.27 0.26 0.24 0.22 0.19 0.17 
			 South West 0.24 0.24 0.23 0.22 0.19 0.17 0.15 0.13 
			 Wales 0.15 0.14 0.13 0.12 0.11 0.09 0.07 0.07 
			 Scotland 0.23 0.21 0.18 0.16 0.15 0.13 0.10 0.09 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey
	
		Number of pensioners in absolute low income -- (millions)
		
			  Three-year rolling averages 
			  199495 to 199697 199596 to 199798 199697 to 199899 199798 to 19992000 199899 to 20002001 19992000 to 200102 200001 to 200203 200102 to 200304 
		
		
			 After housing costs 
			 North East 0.16 0.15 0.13 0.11 0.09 0.07 0.05 0.04 
			 North West and Merseyside 0.35 0.33 0.31 0.27 0.22 0.17 0.14 0.12 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 0.29 0.27 0.25 0.22 0.18 0.14 0.11 0.08 
			 East Midlands 0.21 0.21 0.19 0.18 0.16 0.13 0.12 0.10 
			 West Midlands 0.25 0.26 0.24 0.21 0.18 0.15 0.13 0.11 
			 Eastern 0.32 0.26 0.25 0.23 0.21 0.15 0.12 0.10 
			 London 0.33 0.31 0.29 0.27 0.23 0.19 0.14 0.12 
			 South East 0.38 0.35 0.32 0.31 0.26 0.22 0.17 0.15 
			 South West 0.28 0.29 0.26 0.23 0.19 0.15 0.12 0.09 
			 Wales 0.16 0.15 0.13 0.12 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.05 
			 Scotland 0.28 0.26 0.23 0.20 0.17 0.13 0.10 0.08 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey
	The following table gives the percentage of pensioners living in absolute low income
	for Scotland, Wales and Government office regions.
	
		Percentage of pensioners in absolute low income -- (percentage)
		
			  Three-year rolling averages 
			  199495 to 199697 199596 to 199798 199697 to 199899 199798 to 19992000 199899 to 20002001 19992000 to 200102 200001 to 200203 200102 to 200304 
		
		
			 Before housing costs 
			 North East 26 23 21 20 20 15 12 9 
			 North West and Merseyside 25 23 23 22 19 16 15 13 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 28 26 24 23 20 17 14 12 
			 East Midlands 26 26 25 24 22 20 19 16 
			 West Midlands 26 25 23 21 20 18 17 15 
			 Eastern 24 22 22 21 20 17 14 12 
			 London 20 19 18 17 15 14 13 12 
			 South East 21 20 18 18 17 15 13 12 
			 South West 24 25 23 22 19 17 15 12 
			 Wales 27 25 23 22 19 16 13 12 
			 Scotland 27 24 21 19 14 14 12 10 
			  
			 After housing costs 
			 North East 35 32 28 24 20 15 10 8 
			 North West and Merseyside 29 28 26 23 19 14 11 10 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 33 31 28 25 21 16 12 9 
			 East Midlands 29 29 27 24 21 17 16 13 
			 West Midlands 31 29 26 23 20 16 14 11 
			 Eastern 31 28 27 24 22 16 12 10 
			 London 32 30 28 26 23 19 14 12 
			 South East 27 25 23 22 18 15 12 10 
			 South West 29 29 26 24 19 15 12 9 
			 Wales 28 27 24 22 18 15 11 9 
			 Scotland 32 29 26 23 19 15 11 9 
		
	
	Note:
	1.Figures are provided using a three-year rolled average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Figures are therefore not same as previously published single-year estimates.
	2. Tables show numbers in millions and rounded to the nearest 10,000.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey

Pensions

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) contributors and (b) customers credited with contributions there were in the state second pension scheme (i) in total and (ii) in each (A) region and (B) county in each year since 200203; and what percentage of the working age population this represented in (1) the UK and in (2) each (y) region and (z) county.

Stephen Timms: In 200203 approximately 20 million people, representing 55 per cent. of the working age population started to accrue entitlement to the state second pension. This figure is made of 15.9 million people in work, 1.9 million carers and 2.2 million long term disabled people. No breakdown of these figures is available by region or county.
	Notes:
	1. The figure for 200203 should be regarded as provisional and may be subject to changes in future releases.
	2. Population estimates are taken from Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
	3. The figure is based on a one per cent. sample and is shown to the nearest thousand.
	Source: Lifetime Labour Market Database

Pensions

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost of (a) the basic state pension, (b) state second pension and (c) pension credits was in the last year for which figures are available; what percentage of gross domestic product that figure represents; and what the projected figures are in each case for (i) 2010, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2030, (iv) 2040 and (v) 2050.

Stephen Timms: The information is as follows.
	
		Great Britain,  million, real terms, 200506 prices
		
			  (a) Basic state pension/basic retirement pension   (b) State second pension/state earnings-related pension (c) Pension credit 
			  Expenditure Percentage of GDP Expenditure Percentage of GDP Expenditure Percentage of GDP 
		
		
			 200405 42,373 3.5 7,529 0.6 6,140 0.5 
			 201011 54,339 3.4 13,168 0.8 9,262 0.6 
			 202021 81,809 3.1 25,066 1.0 15,145 0.6 
			 203031 132,914 3.2 48,618 1.2 33,145 0.8 
			 204041 197,113 2.9 92,099 1.4 75,471 1.1 
			 205051 274,409 2.5 189,717 1.8 175,361 1.6 
		
	
	The following information relates to expenditure in Great Britain which the Department for Work and Pensions, is responsible for. Information relating to Northern Ireland is available from the Northern Ireland office.
	Notes:
	1. All expenditure figures are for Great Britain.
	2. The percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) has been calculated using the UK money GDP figures provided, by HM Treasury, on 5 December 2005, following the pre-Budget report 2005.
	3. As GDP is not available for Great Britain, the UK GDP has been applied to the Great Britain expenditure figures and future projections to provide a percentage of GDP.
	4. Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest  million.
	5. GDP percentages have been rounded to one decimal place.
	6. State second pension has been interpreted to mean additional state pension which therefore includes SERPS expenditure.
	7. Pension credit expenditure is a combination of the guarantee and savings credits.
	8. All figures are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2005 and with expenditure information which is published on the Department's internet website at the following addresshttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp. The internet tables have been updated recently following the pre-Budget report 2005.
	Source:
	Expenditure and percentage of gross domestic product figures have been taken from data which underlie the pre-Budget report 2005.

Pensions

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single women pensioners in Tamworth constituency are receiving financial assistance to bring them up to the minimum pension level.

Stephen Timms: At June 2005, 500 single female pensioners in Tamworth parliamentary constituency were in receipt of the guarantee credit element of pension credit.
	Notes:
	1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Pension credit (PC) replaced minimum income guarantee (MIG) on 6 October 2003. Existing MIG recipients were automatically converted onto pension credit on that date (assuming they still met the eligibility criteria).
	3. Data from the Generalised Matching Service (QMS) 100 per cent. scan taken on 10 June 2005. The figure has been rated up to give month-end estimates.
	4. These figures are early estimates. Operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in the figures. The final figures incorporated within the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) will take account of such cases.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 100 per cent. data.

Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received about stakeholder pensions; and what reviews his Department has undertaken on stakeholder pensions since they were introduced.

Stephen Timms: The Department receives a range of correspondence on pension issues including stakeholder pension inquiries but there have been no recent representations specifically on stakeholder pension policy.
	Prior to the introduction of stakeholder pensions in April 2001, the Government advised that it would undertake a review of a number of provisions contained in the Stakeholder Pension Regulations 2000 after they had been in operation for three years. This review was concluded in October 2004, and after careful consideration, it was decided that no changes were necessary at that time. It was, however, recognised that developments in train in the wider pensions field might have a bearing on those provisions and that it might be necessary to look at them again at some point over the coming years.
	Following the Sandier report in July 2002, which looked at medium and long-term retail savings in the UK, we reviewed the stakeholder pensions charge cap. This resulted in the annual management charge being revised from 1 per cent. of the value of the fund a year to 1.5 per cent. for the first 10 years of membership, reducing to 1 per cent. thereafter for stakeholder pension policies bought on or after 6 April 2005. We also introduced the requirement for providers to offer lifestyling, the process where at least five years before retirement the members pension savings are gradually moved into less volatile arrangements.

Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have taken up stakeholder pensions in each year since their introduction; and what the average contribution by (a) employers and (b) individuals has been in each year.

Stephen Timms: The information available is in the following tables:
	
		
			  Calendar year Number of stakeholder pensions opened 
		
		
			 2001(11) 599,000 
			 2002 638,000 
			 2003 560,000 
			 2004 523,000 
			 Total 2,320,000 
		
	
	(11) April to December.
	Notes:
	1. Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI)
	2. Figures rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	
		
		
			   Tax year (a) Average annual employer contribution (b) Average annual individual contribution 
		
		
			 200102 420 950 
			 200203 780 1,560 
			 200304 760 1,430 
		
	
	Note:
	The average annual employer contribution has been extrapolated from the average annual individual contribution to stakeholder pensions.
	Sources:
	(a) HMRC: These estimates provided are based on third party information. The data is for the full year and does not include a scheme start date, so where a scheme was started in-year, although the contributions would only have been made for part of the year they have been averaged over 12 months. Therefore the estimate will not reflect the true annual average if the scheme had operated for a full year. This is particularly true for stakeholder pensions in their first year 200102.
	(b) Personal and stakeholder pensions. Number of individuals contributing and average contribution by status and earned income. HM Revenue and Customs Table 7.10. Contributions will include those from employers, the national insurance rebate (also known as the minimum contribution), as well as individuals' contribution. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/menu-by-year.htm#1

Quad Bikes

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department collects on the number of (a) quad bikes used for work and (b) accidents involving quad bikes used for work; and what steps his Department has taken to educate the public on quad bike safety.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive does not collect information on the number of quad bikes used for work.
	The Health and Safety Executive does not collect information on accidents specifically involving quad bikes. However information is collected on accidents involving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), including quad bikes, and on accidents on rides on attractions such as go-karting, also including ATVs. Over the four-year period 200102 to 200405 in these categories there have been 127 work-related injuries to workers involving ATVs, of which seven were fatal. Over the same period there have been 84 work-related injuries to members of the public involving ATVs, of which one was fatal.
	HSE does not produce guidance aimed specifically at the general public. However it does produce a range of guidance relating to the safe use of ATVs, including quad bikes, used in agriculture. HSE also works through the media to raise public awareness of the causes of accidents in agriculture involving ATVs, using press releases and the annual accident statistics. In addition HSE works with industry's ATV/Quad Group, formed by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) and the Outdoor Power Equipment Council (OPEC), which represents the majority of ATV manufacturers and suppliers. The group produces guidance and promotes the safe use of ATVs and quad bikes across the range of uses. As part of this work HSE has produced an instructional video, co-funded by the manufacturers of ATVs and quad bikes, that the manufacturers and suppliers have agreed to supply to all who buy an ATV or quad bike from members of the AEA and OPEC.

Refurbishment Projects

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list his Department's refurbishment projects that (a) are in progress and (b) will start in the next six months; what steps are being taken to ensure that these will procure timber from legal sustainable sources; and whether guidance is issued to contractors to ensure that the timber used on site during refurbishment comes from legal and sustainable sources.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions is undergoing an extensive long-term program to refurbish 9001,000 Jobcentre Plus sites and Pensions call centres. In the current phase 117 sites are being refurbished with a further 86 sites due to commence refurbishment works before March 2006. A number of contractors and suppliers are used to undertake this work and the Department requires them to obtain timber from legal sources and encourages the supply of timber from sustainable sources. The Department requires all suppliers to submit details of certification schemes used for timber productsthis information is collected and independently audited.
	The Department's Estates Partners Land Securities Trillium undertake all remaining refurbishment projects on behalf of the Department. They have been instructed that all timber across the Department must be verified as being from legal and sustainable sources. This is included within all their specifications for refurbishment work. A supply chain report is presented annually to the Department, detailing the evidence presented for all the timber used. This report, and the evidence it contains, is then independently audited to ensure that the timber does meet the required standards. Any areas of weakness are identified and the Department works closely with Land Securities Trillium to ensure that performance is improved.

Royal Ordnance (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Health and Safety Executive has indicated approval for production to continue at the former Royal Ordnance site in Chorley.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive is not aware of any health and safety issues that might prevent the continuation of production at BAe Chorley. There was a fatal explosion at the site in March 2005, BAe voluntarily ceased production until any reasonably practicable safety improvements had been identified and implemented.
	Limited production was resumed in September, excluding the process that had caused the explosion, but BAe has since announced that their sites at Chorley and Bridgwater will cease production at the end of 2006.

Winter Fuel Payment

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received winter fuel allowance in Oxford, East in each of the last three years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is in the following table. The information for winter fuel payments made in these years are also available in the Library.
	
		
			  Payments made 
		
		
			 200203 15,500 
			 200304 15,345 
			 200405 14,860 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Local authorities and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 100 per cent. sample.

Work Trials

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseekers have undertaken a work trial; in what proportion of cases this has resulted in long-term employment; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 14 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many jobseekers have undertaken a work trial and what proportion of these have resulted in long term employment. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In answer to your specific question, to date, 14,290 jobseekers have started a work trial and 7,780 of those jobseekers went on to become employed as a result of the work trial. This represents a 54% job entry rate.
	However, due to the limitations of the clerical collection of Management Information, we cannot trace employment details from the work trial back to the original customer and, therefore, we are not able to check if an individual work trial results in long term employment.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare Bill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ask the Home Office to review the Custody Plus policy in advance of the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no plans to review the policy on Custody Plusthese provisions are currently planned to be implemented in the autumn of 2006.

Abattoirs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abattoirs are (a) EU-approved and (b) non-approved but operating with a derogation.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	Under the Meat Hygiene Regulations implementing the EU Fresh Meat and Poultry Meat Directives, abattoirs are either fully licensed for intra-Community trade (EU approved) or licensed as low throughput (operating with a derogation).
	The following table gives the number of licensed red meat and poultry meat abattoirs in each category in the United Kingdom as of 1 November 2005.
	
		
			  Type of licence 
			  Red meat abattoirs Poultry, farmed game bird and rabbit meat abattoirs 
			  Fully licensed Low throughput Fully licensed Low throughput 
		
		
			 England 152 98 54 44 
			 Scotland 32 9 5 1 
			 Wales 18 12 5 3 
			 Northern Ireland 14 1 7 2 
			 United Kingdom 216 120 71 50

Avian Influenza

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what conclusions she has drawn from the information that the sentinel birds at the quarantine centre in Essex did not become infected with avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 24 November 2005
	As indicated in the Epidemiology report of this event, there was no evidence that the H5N1 virus had transmitted to other species in the facility including the sentinel chickens. This suggests that the separation of the various species prevented exposure to the virus to the other species.

Avian Influenza

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to (a) farmers, (b) abattoirs and (c) poultry keepers regarding avian influenza; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I have arranged for copies of guidance the Department has issued to poultry keepers and other interested parties regarding avian influenza to be placed in the Library of the House.
	These can also be found at:
	http://defraweb/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm

Biodiversity Ministerial Group

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the Inter-departmental Ministerial Group on Bio-diversity will play in the research into the impacts of internationally sourced commodity production on bio-diversity.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA have commissioned research work into the impacts of internationally sourced commodities on global biodiversity. This work will seek to identify the range of commodities with the largest effects on global biodiversity and identify gaps in the evidence base; palm oil will be one of the commodities investigated. We hope that the outcomes of this work will inform future policy development in the UK and internationally.
	This project is one aspect of DEFRA's work on Business and Biodiversity, in the context of DEFRA's WSSD Delivery Plan on International Biodiversity. The Inter-departmental Ministerial Group on Biodiversity are monitoring implementation of the delivery plan.

Biomass Industry

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the suitability for use as biomass fuel of forestry waste from local government owned land.

Elliot Morley: No separate assessment has been made of the suitability of wood for fuel from local government owned woodland but this is not expected to be materially different from woodland on comparable land in any other ownership. The potential volume of woodfuel production from any single ownership, other than Forestry Commission land, has not been forecast.

Botulinum Toxin

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce a requirement that the pharmaceutical industry use a completely non-animal method to confirm the potency of finished products containing botulinum toxin; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	Botox is the trade name for one of the products containing botulinum toxin which is approved for the treatment of a number of serious and disabling conditions. International and United Kingdom regulations concerning safety and efficacy of medicines require testing for botulinum toxin products at various stages of their processing, from harvesting through to marketing as a finished product for use as a prescription only medicine.
	The European Pharmacopoeia, which sets legal standards for many medicines, requires the product to be looked at in either a mouse test called an LD50 or with another test that has been shown to give similar information. Unfortunately, currently there are no tests that have been shown to be reliable enough to measure the product's strength.
	Tests are being developed but at the moment they can only be used during the early stages of the manufacturing process. However, an acceptable assay in an animal model still remains a requirement to test the finished product before it can be released for use. Research work is ongoing in both the product companies and elsewhere to try and develop a reliable equivalent test that could replace the animal test but as yet no test has been approved by the Pharmacopoeia.

Coastal Erosion

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effects of (a) erosion on the coastline and (b) rising sea levels in the East Riding of Yorkshire; what assessment she has made of the effect on local communities; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA has policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England but operational responsibility falls to the various flood and coastal defence operating authorities who are expected to assess local risk and possible impacts and solutions. The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority responsible for flood risk management in England and this includes the risk of flooding from the sea. Measures to reduce coastal erosion risk fall to maritime district councils under the Coast Protection Act 1949.
	The Holderness coastline is subject to erosion, management of which is principally the responsibility of East Riding of Yorkshire council. At the southern end of the coastline the land is more low-lying and subject to both erosion and coastal flooding; the Environment Agency therefore also has responsibilities.
	Rising water levels in the Humber estuary have been the main driver for development by the Environment Agency of the Humber Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy (HFRMS) which was published in draft form for public consultation in August 2005.
	The HFRMS highlighted the serious issue of coastal erosion at Kilnsea where it is estimated that within two years erosion could lead to the loss of a flood defence embankment that protects eight houses to the south and east of Kilnsea village. At Easington, the HFRMS noted that the combination of erosion and wave overtopping is damaging the Easington Lagoons designated habitat site. The Environment Agency is also considering the potential, impacts for the coast and estuary from future serious breaches of Spurn point and a joint study is being set up with other stakeholders.
	Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) around the English coast are currently being revised. These provide large-scale assessments of the risks associated with coastal processes and present a long-term policy framework to manage them in a sustainable manner. East Riding of Yorkshire council will lead on the review of the Flamborough Head to Gibraltar Point SMP.
	Current coastal research and development projects include one to consider the significance of the lowering by erosion of clay 'platforms' on the foreshore.

Contaminated Soil

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria she uses in deciding whether additional security measures may be needed to protect road or rail shipments of radioactively contaminated soils from remediated sites.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	Anyone wanting to transport radioactive material by road or rail will need to take into account the security measures required by The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2005.
	These security requirements are based on international agreementsthe European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Railand include measures such as only offering the goods to carriers that have been appropriately identified, and fitting devices to stop the theft of the vehicle or its load.

Contaminated Soil

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria she uses in deciding whether to include upland farms covered by restrictions due to Chernobyl radioactive fall-out in areas to be designated under the revised radioactive land contamination regime.

Elliot Morley: I do not intend to provide separate criteria for upland farms in England.
	Informed by the recent public consultation, I shall decide upon generic criteria to protect human health from land contaminated by radioactivity which is giving rise to lasting radiation exposure resulting from the after effects of a radiological emergency or a past or old practice or work activity.

Contaminated Soil

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sites have been identified as radioactively contaminated within the scope of Part IIA of the Environment Act 1990.

Elliot Morley: None. Radioactivity does not currently fall within the scope of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Regulations are to be laid before Parliament in the new year to extend the regime to include radioactivity in England.

Departmental Building

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by her Department in (i) 200506 and (ii) 200607; and what the expected costs are of each project.

Jim Knight: DEFRA has the following building and refurbishment projects planned in 200506 and 200607:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 (i) 200506  
			 (a) Building Projects  
			 VLA Weybridge: Energy Centre 3.3 
			 VLA Weybridge: HV building 3.6 
			 VLA Weybridge: ASU Building 5.3 
			 VLA Weybridge: New Laboratories 43.7 
			 Carmarthen: SVS Building 1.0 
			 (b) Refurbishment Projects  
			 VLA Weybridge: Building 33 27.0 
			 VLA Weybridge: HV supply 1.7 
			 Reading: Northgate House 1.6 
			 York: Kings Pool 17.5 
			 London: Ashdown House 4.7 
			 London: Nobel House 33.9 
			 London: Eastbury House Ph II 0.5 
			 London: 55 Whitehall 4.5 
			 Scarborough: MFA offices 0.4 
			   
			 (ii) 200607  
			 (a) Building Projects  
			 VLA Weybridge: Stores Building 6.0 
			 Alnwick: Reprovision of Offices 3.0 
			 Norwich: Reprovision of Offices 2.0 
			 (b) Refurbishment Projects  
			 London: Eastbury House Ph III 1.0

Departmental Tendering Policy

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on including (a) ethical and (b) environmental factors in tenders for services.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA expects to let all its contracts in accordance with moral principles, and would consider any case where evidence to the contrary was presented.
	Environmental factors in contracts let by DEFRA have been considered on a case by case basis relative to the subject matter of the contract, and the requirements of Community law.
	The Department will, very shortly, be making publicly available a Sustainable Procurement Toolkit which will enhance further the consideration of environmental factors in public sector contracts.

Departmental Vehicles

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of vehicles used by her Department run on (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquefied petroleum gas.

Jim Knight: At 31 March 2005, the proportions of fleet vehicles owned by DEFRA and its Executive agencies, by fuel type are shown as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 (a) Petrol 3.9 
			 (b) Diesel 90.8 
			 (c) Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) 4.0 
			 (d) Hybrid Electric Vehicles 1.3 
		
	
	Fleet cars are subject to caps on CO 2 emissions according to engine size.
	Business mileage is also undertaken by officials in their own vehicles. It is not possible to give a breakdown by fuel type.

Domestic Central Heating

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to help people over 60 who cannot afford the cost of the installation and maintenance of domestic central heating.

Elliot Morley: The Government's Warm Front Scheme in England provides a range of heating and insulation measures to householders in receipt of certain benefits. Where a new central heating system is installed, customers are provided with guidance on the efficient use of the system and two annual service visits. There are similar schemes in place in each of the devolved Administrations.
	Warm Front has now assisted over one million households since its launch in June 2000. The new phase of the scheme was launched in June 2005, and is better equipped to target and assist those most in need in a sustainable way.
	In the pre-Budget report, the Chancellor announced that an additional 300 million would be made available to tackle fuel poverty across the UK. In England, this means that an additional 250 million will be made available both to boost the Warm Front Scheme and extend its ability to provide central heating to poor pensioners, and to provide 300 off the cost of a central heating system for all other pensioners.
	More information on the range of measures installed under Warm Front (including a breakdown of measures installed by constituency in England) and its equivalents in the devolved Administrations is available at www.eaga.co.uk

Farmers' Markets

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance her Department gives to farmers markets in rural areas.

Jim Knight: Farmers' markets, which this department has responsibility for, are an important outlet for local food producers, with the added advantage that the direct sales they can stimulate leave producers with a bigger share of the retail price. They have been shown to help bring life back into town centres and to stimulate trade in surrounding shops on days when they are held. They can also play a part in reinstating a more individual character to the local area, where high street uniformity has possibly crept in, and in restoring a more traditional 'market town' atmosphere.
	The Department has encouraged farmers' markets by stressing to local authorities the benefits to the rural economy and to town centres which such markets can bring. In addition, we have also provided funding, at both a national and regional level, under our various grant schemes to help establish and raise awareness of farmers' markets. Earlier this year we provided funding for the 'Farmers Market' conference organised by The National Farmers' Retail and Market Association (FARMA) which was held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London. Officials meet regularly with representatives from FARMA (an organisation that represents over 700 direct selling outlets) to explore how we can work together on our common goals of reconnecting farmers to their markets and helping them to add value.

Flood Defences (East Sussex)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to increase funding for flood defences in Robertsbridge, East Sussex; and whether the funds will be spent on flood defences along Northbridge street.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 December 2005
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 508W. Northbridge street is protected by the new 4.5 million Robertsbridge flood alleviation scheme. It has the same standard of protection from flooding by the River Rother as the rest of Robertsbridge, that is against all flood events except those with a probability of occurrence in any one year of less than 1 per cent.

Flood Maps

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of accuracy is of flood maps drawn up by the Environment Agency.

Elliot Morley: The Flood Map, which replaced the Environment Agency's previous Indicative Floodplain Map in October 2004, combines data from a number of sources, and therefore it is not possible to put a precise figure on its 'accuracy'.
	Flood mapping is a complex, detailed and extensive process that will never be completely accurate but the Environment Agency is committed top provide the best currently available information using nationally consistent principles.
	The Flood Map incorporates the Environment Agency's local detailed model data for over 800 flooding 'hotspots'. It was produced using an in depth survey, detailed flow estimates and local knowledge.
	This is extended to cover the whole of the floodplain in England using national scale 'generalised' modelling and mapping. This uses data which, by its nature, is of varying levels of detail depending on, for example, local topography.
	The information provided by the Flood Map therefore covers the flood plains across the whole of England using the latest technology, a consistent approach and the best available data. It shows areas that are at risk of flooding but cannot provide detail on individual properties.
	The Environment Agency has an ongoing programme of improvements to the Flood Map, focusing on areas of highest risk and uncertainty. An updated Flood Map is published on the internet quarterly to incorporate this new information as it becomes available.

Flooding

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential for improving water absorption by tree-planting to reduce flooding; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA is responsible for policy on flood risk management in England. There has been some research on the impacts of woodlands and forestry on flood run-off. Responses to the recent public consultation on Making Space for Water, DEFRA's developing new Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management, reinforced the need to continue this area of investigation alongside consideration of how other rural land management techniques might contribute to managing flood risk.
	Evidence to date suggests that, while there can be an impact on frequent flood events at the local scale, effects are much less certain for more extreme events at the wider catchment level.

Food Allergies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the new rules on food allergies; and what products are covered by those rules.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	The Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/2824) came into force on 26 November 2004. They establish a list of 12 foods that will have to be indicated by reference to the source allergen whenever they or their derived ingredients are used in pre-packed foods whatever the level of use. This list consists of cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats), crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanut, soya beans, milk, tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, brazil nuts), celery, mustard, sesame, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (above 10 mg/kg).

Global Warming

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with experts on the effects of global warming on coastline and river levels.

Elliot Morley: The Department funds much of the UK work on climate change, its impacts and appropriate adaptation measures and so we are in regular contact with leading experts in this field.
	The main effects on the coastline relate to sea level rise, compounded by long term land movement. For the UK, estimates were published in the 2002 UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) Scenarios of Climate change. Other factors include the frequency, duration and intensity of storms which drive waves and surges.
	The effect of climate change on river levels depends on complex interactions between rainfall patterns (including both the frequency, intensity and duration of severe storms and longer term rainfall patterns that determine the degree of catchment wetness) and physical catchment characteristics.
	The Department has since 1989 issued precautionary guidance on the climate change impacts that should be taken into account when designing flood and coastal erosion risk management measures. This was last updated in 2003 to take account of the UKCIP 2002 scenarios and other specific research on river and coastal impacts. The guidance is kept under review in the light of emerging research results; for example, those presented by leading experts at DEFRA's conference on 'Dangerous Climate Change', held in Exeter in early 2005. In developing our new Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk ManagementMaking Space for Water-we have made a specific commitment to review our guidance in 2007. To support this review DEFRA has just commissioned a major piece of research over a 30 month period to understand, better the potential impacts on river flow of a range of future climate scenarios.

GM Products

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent international experience she has examined in relation to the withdrawal of GM products for reasons of their effect on (a) the environment and (b) animal welfare.

Elliot Morley: Under EU legislation each proposed release of a GM product is subject to a detailed risk assessment which involves careful scrutiny by independent scientists. An evaluation is made of all the risk factors that may arise, including the impact on the environment and animal welfare. This takes account of both British and international experience in the form both of relevant evidence from tests and trials, and in the form of existing scientific knowledge.
	Once a GMO has been approved, it is possible that new scientific evidence (from either British or international sources) may come to light which might warrant a reassessment of the approval. There areprovisions under the terms of EU legislation which allow a member state to take safeguard action in these circumstances, if this is justified by the new information.
	Ensuring safety is the Government's clear overriding objective, and we will only agree to the release of a GM product if we are satisfied that it is safe.

Greenhouse Gases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 312W, on greenhouse gases, what estimate she has made of the change in carbon dioxide emissions from current levels to the Kyoto target period which will result from (a) changes in the future of energy supply, (b) economic activity, (c) fuel prices, (d) sectoral trends, (e) effects of current and future policy measures and (f) other major factors.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 December 2005
	I have been asked to reply.
	Work to update the energy projections published in November 2004 is continuing. My Department is aiming to publish information on the projections in due course.
	The November 2004 projections can be found at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep2004.pdf with an addendum later published, which extended the projections to 2020. This can be found at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep_addendum.pdf.

Markets

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department is taking to encourage the use of markets.

Jim Knight: Farmers' markets, which this Department has responsibility for, are an important outlet for local food producers, with the added advantage that the direct sales they can stimulate leave producers with a bigger share of the retail price. They have been shown to help bring life back into town centres and to stimulate trade in surrounding shops on days when they are held. They can also play a part in reinstating a more individual character to the local area, where high street uniformity has possibly crept in, and in restoring a more traditional 'market town' atmosphere.
	The Department has encouraged farmers' markets by stressing to local authorities the benefits to the rural economy and to town centres which such markets can bring. In addition, we have also provided funding, at both a national and regional level, under our various grant schemes to help establish and raise awareness of farmers' markets. Earlier this year we provided funding for the 'Farmers Market' conference organised by The National Farmers' Retail and Market Association (FARMA) which was held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London. Officials meet regularly with representatives from FARMA (an organisation that represents over 700 direct selling outlets) to explore how we can work together on our common goals of reconnecting farmers to their markets and helping them to add value.
	My noble Friend, Lord Bach, spoke at the Making markets, Creating places conference held at Borough Market in June 2005. That conference focused on the key role markets can play in towns and cities and highlighted their potential for supporting the growing numbers of quality food producers looking to sell their products. The event brought together leaders in the urban regeneration and food policy fields along with those who have been at the forefront of revitalising city centre markets in the UK.

Pegasus Birds Quarantine Centre

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether a public health issue would arise if a hospital worker was running the Pegasus Birds quarantine centre.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	Avian influenza does not easily cross the species barrier from birds to people, and there is no confirmed evidence that avian influenza is transmissible from person to person.
	The normal infection control measures that are taken to protect people against the risk of any zoonotic diseases that birds can carry and to prevent infection of those caring for birds should protect against avian influenza risks.
	Guidance on avoiding the risk of zoonotic infections, including avian influenza is available on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website and on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

Pesticides

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings with pesticide companies the Government has had in the preparation of its response to the report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, crop spraying and the health of residents and bystanders; and what meetings with pesticide companies are planned.

Elliot Morley: My noble Friend, the Lord Bach, will be meeting with representatives of the Crop Protection Association on 11 January 2006. He has not held any other meetings with pesticide companies since the launch of the RCEP report in September and no other such meetings are currently planned.

Pesticides

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Government Departments will be involved in consultations and discussions about the Government's response to the report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, crop spraying and the health of residents and bystanders.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA is currently addressing the recommendations and will co-ordinate a Government response by next summer. As part of this process DEFRA will be discussing the recommendations with a number of government departments and agencies and particularly those, such as the Department of Health and the Health and Safety Executive, which have responsibility relevant to some of the areas covered by the report.

Poultry Auctions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department's definition of higher risk events includes poultry auctions under licence.

Ben Bradshaw: The auction of poultry is defined as a higher risk event and is currently prohibited as are all sales from exhibitions, shows, fairs and other gatherings.

Sheep/Goats

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the United Kingdom's derogation from EU Council Regulation 21/2004 on identifying sheep and goats will continue after December 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: Yes, the derogation is currently due to expire on 30 April 2006.
	A decision on whether the derogation will be extended will be taken by the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health before the derogation expires.

Sugar Subsidies

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the recent reductions of sugar subsidies by the EU on (a) encouraging trade in developing countries and (b) the overproduction and dumping of sugar.

Ben Bradshaw: The existing EU sugar regime results in a structural surplus of around 5 million tonnes of sugar a year, much of which is disposed of on world markets with the aid of export subsidies. This depresses world prices as well as displacing other potential suppliers. It also requires the EU to limit access to its own market in order to protect its internal price structure.
	Under the reformed arrangements agreed in November to take effect from July 2006, EU prices will be progressively reduced and the industry restructured to achieve a new balance of supply and demand consistent with the granting of full duty free access to all Least Developed Countries from 2009 (in addition to existing preferential access for African Caribbean and Pacific countries) and limiting exports to the new lower level of 1.27 million tonnes resulting from the recent WTO Panel ruling.
	The impact of these changes is considered in detail in the Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment of options for reform of the EU Sugar Regime published by DEFRA in June 2005.

Water Reservoirs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the water reservoirs that (a) have become operational in each year since 1990 and (b) are planned, giving the operating company in each case.

Elliot Morley: No major public water supply reservoirs have been built since 1990 or are currently under construction. In fulfilment of their duties to maintain adequate supplies of water, several water companies propose to construct five new reservoirs. These proposals were set out in the 25-year water resources plans they prepared in 2004.
	
		
			 Proposed location Company 
		
		
			 Broad Oak Southern Water/Mid Kent Water/ Folkestone and Dover Water Services 
			 Clay Hill South East Water 
			 Havant Thicket Portsmouth Water 
			 South West Oxfordshire Thames Water 
			 Lower Severn Severn Trent 
		
	
	In each case the necessary approvals, such as planning permission, will need to be obtained.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list the complaints made by (a) members of the public, (b) hon. Members and (c) members of the House of Lords about the conduct of the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the outcome was in each case.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost (Code of Practice for Access to Government Information, part 2, section 9 a).

Crown Prosecution Service

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many (a) males and (b) females were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in (i) Southend, (ii) Essex, (iii) Hertfordshire and (iv) the Metropolitan police area of London in each of the last 15 years for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The number of males and females who were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in (ii) Essex, (iii) Hertfordshire (iv) the Metropolitan police area of London for which figures are available are tabled as follows.
	Southend is not a Crown Prosecution Service area but forms part of Essex area. It has not been possible to provide a breakdown for that part of the area alone.
	
		
			 CPS 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 All staff 5,770 5,830 6,910 7,440 8,070 8,386 
			 Male 2,110 2,110 2,340 2,500 2,680 2,797 
			 Female 3,660 3,720 4,570 4,940 5,390 5,589 
			
			 Essex   
			 Male n/a 19 49 52 55 56 
			 Female n/a 29 73 88 92 102 
			
			 Hertfordshire   
			 Male n/a 18 22 22 26 28 
			 Female n/a 49 57 65 73 78 
			
			 London   
			 Male n/a 289 355 395 449 462 
			 Female n/a 530 704 770 885 911

Crown Prosecution Service

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases of person-assisted suicide the Crown Prosecution Service has taken up over the last 10 years for which information is available.

Mike O'Brien: The Crown Prosecution Service has records of the volume of specific offences handled only since full implementation of the Compass Case Management System in April 2004. These records show that, during the year ending March 2005, two offences under s.2(l) of the Suicide Act 1961 (aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the suicide of another) proceeded to a hearing, followed by a further three offences during the period 1 April to 8 December 2005.

Crown Prosecution Service

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General what the target staffing level is of the Crown Prosecution Service in (a) Southend and (b) Essex; and what the actual level is.

Mike O'Brien: CPS areas are required to operate within set budgets, rather than having target staffing figures.
	CPS Essex is organised into four district teams. The South East Essex team has responsibility for cases arising in Southend. As at 1 December 2005, CPS Essex employed the full time equivalent of 25.4 staff in the South East team and the full time equivalent of 137.8 staff in the area as a whole. CPS Essex is currently recruiting at prosecutor level and has recently appointed two administrative witness care officers, who are due to take up their positions shortly.

Crown Prosecution Service

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases have been discontinued in the Essex Crown Prosecution Service, broken down by category of offence, in the last five years for which information is available.

Mike O'Brien: In September 2004, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) introduced a system for the recording and analysis of principal offence types for which each defendant is prosecuted. Before this date, the CPS measured only the seriousness of the offence as summary, either-way or indictable only.
	Since September 2004, CPS Essex has processed a total of 30,952 defendants of whom a total of 3,700 had their cases discontinued. This figure includes cases: where a bindover was accepted; where a discontinuance decision was made by the prosecution; that are withdrawn with a reinstatement warning; in which no evidence is offered; and, a very small number where the indictment or prosecution was stayed.
	18 defendants were processed under the offence type of homicide, of which two were discontinued.
	4,601 defendants were processed under the offence type of offences against the person, of which 1,342 were discontinued.
	292 defendants were processed under the offence type of sexual offences, of which 79 were discontinued.
	769 defendants were processed under the offence type of burglary of which 126 were discontinued.
	271 defendants were processed under the offence type of robbery, of which 44 were discontinued.
	4,418 defendants were processed under the offence type of theft and handling, of which 466 were discontinued.
	254 defendants were processed under the offence type of fraud and forgery, of which 40 were discontinued.
	1,706 defendants were processed under the offence type of criminal damage, of which 284 were discontinued.
	974 defendants were processed under the offence type of drugs offences, of which 64 were discontinued.
	1,943 defendants were processed under the offence type of public order offences, of which 351 were discontinued.
	13,141 defendants were processed under the offence type of motoring offences, of which 634 were discontinued.
	1,592 defendants were processed under the offence type of all other offences, of which 261 were discontinued.
	The above analysis takes no account of cases which resulted in an administrative finalisation, where the defendant could not be traced by the police, had died, or been found unfit to plead.

Crown Prosecution Service

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement about the performance of the Crown Prosecution Service in (a) Southend and (b) Essex.

Mike O'Brien: CPS Essex performance data for the second quarter of 200506 shows improvements across a range of key indicators (measuring delivery of services to the public). The Area is achieving an overall rating of amber/green (on a scale where red indicates a negative likelihood and green indicates a positive likelihood) in relation to the likelihood of it meeting current targets. This equates to an overall performance improvement from the first quarter of 200506 and suggests improved delivery of Area business. These measurements relate to the Essex as a whole and do not break down to team performance within the county.
	In addition, Essex CPS was designated as ready to move onto the statutory charging scheme with effect from Monday 12 December 2005. This reflects a significant achievement for the Area in relation to the provision of pre-charge advice to Essex police officers as part of the national rollout under the CPS Charging Programme.

Crown Prosecution Service

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases have been dealt with by the Essex Crown Prosecution Service by category of offence in the last five years for which information is available; and how many resulted in an (a) not guilty and (b) guilty verdict.

Mike O'Brien: In September 2004, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) introduced a system for the recording and analysis of principal offence types for which each defendant is prosecuted. Before this date, the CPS measured only the seriousness of the offence as summary, either-way or indictable only.
	Since September 2004, CPS Essex has processed a total of 30,952 defendants of which 25,228 resulted in a guilty verdict and 777 resulted in a not guilty verdict. Cases prosecuted by the CPS do not all conclude in a guilty or not guilty verdict. The figures for each principal offence code for defendants processed by CPS Essex between September 2004 and 8 December 2005 which concluded in a guilty or not guilty verdict are tabled.
	18 defendants were processed under the offence type of homicide. 13 concluded in a guilty verdict and two concluded in an acquittal.
	4,601 defendants were processed under the offence type of offences against the person. 2,957 concluded in a guilty verdict and 284 concluded in an acquittal.
	292 defendants were processed under the offence type of sexual offences. 163 concluded in a guilty verdict and 48 concluded in an acquittal.
	769 defendants were processed under the offence type of burglary. 626 concluded in a guilty verdict and 16 concluded in an acquittal.
	271 defendants were processed under the offence type of robbery. 208 concluded in a guilty verdict and 14 concluded in an acquittal.
	4,418 defendants were processed under the offence type of theft and handling. 3,875 concluded in a guilty verdict and 63 concluded in an acquittal.
	254 defendants were processed under the offence type of fraud and forgery. 208 concluded in a guilty verdict and three concluded in an acquittal.
	1,706 defendants were processed under the offence type of criminal damage. 1,376 concluded in a guilty verdict and 44 concluded in an acquittal.
	974 defendants were processed under the offence type of drugs offences. 901 concluded in a guilty verdict and six concluded in an acquittal.
	1,943 defendants were processed under the offence type of public order offences. 1,526 concluded in a guilty verdict and 61 concluded in an acquittal.
	13,141 defendants were processed under the offence type of motoring offences. 12,316 concluded in a guilty verdict and 174 concluded in an acquittal.
	1,592 defendants were processed under the offence type of all other offences. 1,268 concluded in a guilty verdict and 61 concluded in an acquittal.
	The analysis takes no account of cases which resulted in an administrative finalisation (where the defendant could not be traced by the police, had died, or been found unfit to plead) or cases which were discontinued by the prosecution or discharged at committal.
	
		CPS Essex outcomes by Principal Offence Category
		
			 200405 
			  Admin finalised Discharged committal Prosecution dropped Acquitted Convicted Total 
		
		
			 A Homicide 0 0 0 0 5 5 
			 B Offences Against The Person 3 4 479 101 1,081 1,668 
			 C Sexual Offences 0 1 32 20 65 118 
			 D Burglary 0 0 52 7 248 307 
			 E Robbery 0 1 8 6 71 86 
			 F Theft And Handling 1 4 161 20 1,462 1,648 
			 G Fraud And Forgery 0 3 18 2 90 113 
			 H Criminal Damage 1 0 101 16 533 651 
			 I Drugs Offences 1 2 23 2 373 401 
			 J Public Order Offences 0 0 131 25 631 787 
			 K All Other Offences (excluding Motoring) 0 1 101 19 562 683 
			 L Motoring Offences 3 1 218 63 4,920 5,205 
			 M Admin finalised 260 0 6 0 4 270 
			 Total 269 17 1,330 281 10,045 11,942 
		
	
	
		200506 to 8 December 2005
		
			  Admin finalised Discharged committal Prosecution dropped Acquitted Convicted Total 
		
		
			 A Homicide 1 0 2 2 8 13 
			 B Offences Against The Person 10 1 863 183 1,876 2,933 
			 C Sexual Offences 1 0 47 28 98 174 
			 D Burglary 1 0 74 9 378 462 
			 E Robbery 0 4 36 8 137 185 
			 F Theft And Handling 8 1 305 43 2,413 2,770 
			 G Fraud And Forgery 0 0 22 1 118 141 
			 H Criminal Damage 1 0 183 28 843 1,055 
			 I Drugs Offences 0 0 41 4 528 573 
			 J Public Order Offences 5 0 220 36 895 1,156 
			 K All Other Offences (excluding Motoring) 1 0 160 42 706 909 
			 L Motoring Offences 13 0 416 111 7,396 7,936 
			 M Admin finalised 694 0 1 1 7 703 
			 Total 735 6 2,370 496 15,403 19,010 
		
	
	
		September 2004 to 8 December 2005 (combined figures)
		
			  Admin finalised Discharged committal Prosecution dropped Acquitted Convicted Total 
		
		
			 A Homicide 1 0 2 2 13 18 
			 B Offences Against The Person 13 5 1,342 284 2,957 4,601 
			 C Sexual Offences 1 1 79 48 163 292 
			 D Burglary 1 0 126 16 626 769 
			 E Robbery 0 5 44 14 208 271 
			 F Theft And Handling 9 5 466 63 3,875 4,418 
			 G Fraud And Forgery 0 3 40 3 208 254 
			 H Criminal Damage 2 0 284 44 1,376 1,706 
			 I Drugs Offences 1 2 64 6 901 974 
			 J Public Order Offences 5 0 351 61 1,526 1,943 
			 K All Other Offences (excluding Motoring) 1 1 261 61 1,268 1,592 
			 L Motoring Offences 16 1 634 174 12,316 13,141 
			 M Admin finalised 954 0 7 1 11 973 
			 Total 1,004 23 3,700 777 25,448 30,952

TRANSPORT

A21 Upgrade

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to hold further public consultations regarding the proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge in East Sussex.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency will continue to consult with individuals, representative bodies and statutory bodies. Further public exhibitions will be held as the proposals are developed.

A21 Upgrade

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the public consultation held on 7 December, on the proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge in East Sussex.

Stephen Ladyman: I have asked the Highways Agency for details of the outcomes following the discussions that took place at Hurst Green Village Hall on 7 December and expect to receive these shortly.

Airspace (Extraordinary Rendition)

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  on how many occasions since 1 January 2001 US-registered aircraft tail number (a) N44982, formerly N8068V and N379P, and (b) N313P operated in UK airspace;
	(2)  on how many occasions since 1 January 2001 US-registered aircraft tail number (a) N44982, formerly N8068V and N379P, and (b) N313P were provided with air traffic control services.

Karen Buck: holding answer 12 December 2005
	This is an operational matter for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS). I have asked the chief executive of NATS to write to the right hon. and learned Member.

Biofuels

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Government have made of the environmental impact of the increased use of palm oil as a result of the Government's Renewable Fuel Obligation.

Stephen Ladyman: We have published a feasibility study and regulatory impact assessment for the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation which consider the environmental benefits and impact of biofuels in some detail. Both of these documents are available in the House Library and on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/divisionhomepaqe/610328.hcsp.

Car Accidents (Young People)

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1118W, on car accidents (young people), what plans he has to improve the education environment for young drivers.

Stephen Ladyman: We aim to develop a more improved approach to training and testing. This will be based on research. To this end my Department has recently let two contracts. One is about improving the delivery of road safety education. The other is a review of pre-driver education, which will study the attitudes and influences on driving style that are developed at a young age and before any formal training is undertaken.
	In addition the Cohort Study of Learner and Novice Drivers is looking at the methods used and experiences gained of those learning to drive and compares them to how the candidates performed in the practical driving test. The study also follows a sample of drivers for a 3-year period to analyse the experiences they have gained as novice drivers.
	Two new projects are also about to be awarded. The Evaluation of the Driving Standards Agency Drivers' Record will investigate the extent of use of the Drivers' Record, and the influence it has on the level and nature of pre-test driver training and experience, and on driving test performance. The second new project concerns the Development of the Pass Plus Scheme for Newly Qualified Drivers, which will explore possible means of improving both the impact and uptake of Pass Plus.
	Research continues on the content, delivery and recruitment to existing pre-test and post-test motorcycle training. The project, being conducted by TRL, is addressing issues such as key competencies and skills, whether training should vary according to bike type, how courses can attract riders and how the new practical test being introduced in 2008 will impact on current training courses.

Harbour Commissioners

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when powers under section 15 of the Harbours Act 1964 to remove a Harbour Commissioner from office were last used; what the circumstances were in which these powers were used; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: In the past 30 years, the period for which the Department retains records, no Section 15 Orders have been made to remove a Harbour Commissioner from office.

Harbour Commissioners

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued relating to (a) the conduct of Harbour Commissioners and (b) the practice to be followed on appointing new commissioners; if he will publish such guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Guidance to trust ports covering the appointment and conduct of Harbour Commissioners is issued in the form of our published document Modernising Trust PortsA Guide to Good Governance a copy of which is available in the Library and on the Department's website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_shipping/documents/divisionhomepage/032192.hcsp

Heavy Goods Vehicles

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are plans to introduce retrospective measures to require heavy goods vehicles to fit blind spot mirrors or cameras.

Stephen Ladyman: We understand the European Commission is developing a proposal for a directive that would require the existing heavy vehicle fleet to be equipped retrospectively with mirrors (or cameras) offering the same vision capability as will be required of all new heavy vehicles entering into service after January 2007. The Commission has as yet not discussed this issue with member states so no details are available.

Highways Agency

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedure has to be followed to claim compensation from the Highways Agency after a compulsory purchase order.

Stephen Ladyman: Following the making of a compulsory purchase order, a person or persons, whose property has been included in that order, are served with a notice to treat. The notice confirms the extent of the land affected and invites those with an interest to make a claim for compensation. On receipt of a claim, the Highways Agency instructs its valuer to negotiate and agree compensation with the claimant and their surveyor.

Highways Agency

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency spent on the Compulsory Purchase Order of Stage Cottage, Hurst Green, East Sussex; and how much it has spent on the property since.

Stephen Ladyman: Stage Cottage was purchased in August 2005 by agreement for 350,000 under discretionary purchase terms. The property will be kept in management by the Highways Agency and let until the A21 Flimwell to Robertsbridge road scheme has been developed in detail. The property is currently being refurbished at a cost of about 22,000 in preparation for letting.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 motorway was closed in Leicestershire on 5 December; on whose authority; what steps were taken to ensure the period of the closure was kept to a minimum; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The M1 was closed southbound between Junctions 21 and 22 on 5 December from 9.45 am to 6.45 pm due to a serious road traffic accident involving five vehicles, including two HGVs and two vans. Leicestershire police closed the carriageway with assistance from the Highways Agency and its agents.
	The length of closure was due to the severity of injuries and the fact that the vehicles involved were badly damaged and entangled, which increased the time of the recovery operation. The incident was classified by the police as a potential fatal scene, necessitating detailed investigation. The carriageway was reopened directly after the investigation was completed and the scene cleared.

Railways

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the operation of section 110 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the number of local authorities which have not complied with the provisions of section 110 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: Section 110 of the Act imposes no duty of compliance on local authorities. It amends an exemption from seat belt wearing by goods vehicle users to apply only when travelling less than 50 metres between stops. Regulations including the revised exemption came into force on 1 March 2005. Observed rates of seat belt wearing in light goods vehicles are as follows:
	
		GB Percentage of seat belt wearing in light goods vehicles
		
			   Drivers Front seat passengers 
		
		
			 October 2000 64 53 
			 April 2001 63 52 
			 October 2001 64 53 
			 April 2002 64 51 
			 October 2002 63 55 
			 April 2003 63 55 
			 October 2003 64 51 
			 April 2004 67 53 
			 October 2004 70 57 
			 April 2005 68 58 
			 October 2005 69 61 
		
	
	Source:
	TRL Ltd surveys for Department of Transport

Road Building (North West England)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his road building priorities are in the North West of England.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency has seven major improvement schemes (over 5 million) in the Trunk Road programme in the North West. These schemes are expected to start by April 2008, and are:
	M6 Carlisle to Guards Mill (200607)
	A5117/A550 Deeside Park Junctions Improvement (200607)
	M62 Junction 6 Improvement (200708)
	A590 High and Low Newton Bypass (200506)
	A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass and Improvement at Winderwath (200506)
	A57/A628 Mottram, Hollingworth and Tintwistle Bypass (200708)
	A595 Parton to Lillyhall Improvement (200607)
	The M60 junctions 58 widening scheme is under construction, and a scheme is also being developed to provide additional capacity on the M60 between junctions 12 and 18.
	Further work is also being undertaken to determine how additional capacity on the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester should be providedeither by widening or by the construction of a new parallel 'expressway'.
	A further six potential trunk road schemes are currently being prioritised as part of the regional funding allocation process.

Seat Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the number of people wearing seat belts of an increase in the fine to 80; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: No such assessment has been made.
	Observed seat belt wearing rates are shown in the following table shows. The Department continues its publicity campaign to try to improve seat belt wearing in the rear of cars.
	
		GB percentage of car seat belt wearing rates
		
			  Drivers Front seat passengers Rear seat adults (14+) Rear seat children (13-) Rear seat all 
		
		
			 October 2000 91 94 59 90 79 
			 April 2001 91 93 55 90 78 
			 October 2001 90 92 56 90 77 
			 April 2002 91 93 58 92 79 
			 October 2002 90 92 57 90 79 
			 April 2003 91 92 61 90 80 
			 October 2003 91 93 60 90 79 
			 April 2004 93 94 66 92 83 
			 October 2004 93 94 65 93 83 
			 April 2005 93 94 65 93 83 
			 October 2005 92 94 68 94 85

Speed Limits

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce 20 mph speed limits near schools in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Local authorities already have the powers under section 84 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to introduce local speed limits, including 20mph, when the national default limits are not deemed appropriate. The Department encourages their implementation in areas where vulnerable road users are present, including around schools. Local authorities are however best placed to determine where and when 20mph limits or 20mph zones are appropriate.

Tram Programmes

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list departmental meetings held in relation to the (a) Manchester, (b) Sheffield and (c) the Nottingham tram system programmes.

Derek Twigg: Departmental meetings are held frequently to discuss a range of departmental policies.

Tram Programmes

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in respect of Mersey Tram Line 1.

Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I meet our ministerial colleagues to discuss a range of departmental policies regularly.

US-registered Planes

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates planes registered in the US by Stevens Express Leasing have landed at domestic UK airfields in each of the last five years.

Karen Buck: The Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation sets out the international rights and obligations of the airlines of contracting states, including when it is necessary to seek prior permission to operate flights over or into another state. This is implemented by Article 138 of the Air Navigation Order 2005. Permission from the Secretary of State for Transport is only required by foreign aircraft operating civil flights into the UK where they land and take on board or discharge passengers or cargo, and where valuable consideration is given or promised in respect of that carriage. The Department for Transport has no records of aircraft operated by Stevens Express Leasing landing in the UK.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Bribery/Corruption

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether breach of the proposed legal obligation at an EU level for public officials to report bribery, corruption and business interests would constitute a criminal offence in the UK.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 12 December 2005
	We are not aware of the proposal to which the question refers. Requirements of this kind are normally dealt with in the UK in codes of conduct and we do not think the introduction of a criminal offence is necessary or appropriate.

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of correspondence from hon. Members to the Prison Service was answered within 20 working days between (a) January to March, (b) April to June and (c) July to September; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the percentage of correspondence from hon. Members to the Prison Service answered within 20 working days from (a) January to March (b) April to June and (c) July to September 2005 is shown in the following table.
	
		Percentage of correspondence from hon. Members to the Prison Service answered within 20 working days from (a) January to March (b) April to June and (c) July to September 2005
		
			  Total (Percentage) 
		
		
			 January to March 92.1 
			 April to June 98.8 
			 July to September 98.7

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 20 September on behalf of Mohammed Hassan, husband of Israa Yunis Gullid (Home Office Reference G1097755), (Correspondence Reference B22342/5).

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my right hon. Friend on 12 December 2005.

Crime (Shropshire)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of prisoners released from Shrewsbury prison entered employment, education or training after being released in each year since 2002.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Employment, Training and Education outcomes for prisoners leaving Shrewsbury prison is given in the following table. The outcomes include those who attended FRESHSTART appointments at Jobcentre Plus, whereby prisoners who do not have a job or training place to go to on release are linked into employment, training and benefits advice and support immediately after release.
	
		
			  200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Discharges 725 623 643 
			 ETE outcomes (inc. FRESHSTART) 186 217 266 
			 ETE outcomes (inc. FRESHSTART) as percentage of total discharges 26 35 41

Electronic Tagging

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many tagged offenders have removed their tags since the policy was brought in.

Fiona Mactaggart: Between 1 April 2005, when the new contracts started, and 31 October 2005, a total of one, 664 subjects breached their curfew requirements by maliciously tampering with the tag. The figures include subjects who cut off the tag.
	The system is designed to ensure that any attempt to remove a tag within the curfew address automatically registers as a tamper at the electronic monitoring service provider's control centre.

European Anti-crime Measures

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is a Government objective that legislation in criminal matters should be approximated with other EU member states in accordance with European Commission suggestions.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 8 December 2005
	The Government believes that some limited EU approximation of criminal acts and penalties is necessary. This approximation should be restricted to that which is necessary to combat serious cross-border crime or in support of European Community policies, such as against environmental crime or shipping pollution. The Government does not support widespread approximation or harmonisation of member states legal systems.
	Approximation of criminal acts and penalties, where necessary, should be taken forward in a manner which respects the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. The legal traditions of individual member states should be respected and action at ED level should be taken only where this was justified on the basis of identified needs.
	The European Commission recently published a Communication on the scope for community competence to legislate in criminal matters following the European Court of Justice judgment of 13 September 2005 (Case C-176/03 Commission v. Council) annulling the framework decision on the protection of the environment through criminal law. The Government are still considering the legal and political implications of this communication.

European Anti-crime Measures

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on the European Commission's proposals for a witness protection programme at EU level; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 12 December 2005
	The UK Government stands ready to consider such proposals on their merits as and when they are made. We support work to encourage cross-border cooperation on witness protection and recently endorsed a Council of Europe Recommendation with that aim. We are also working with French colleagues on the development of a project to encourage cooperation between G8 countries.

European Anti-crime Measures

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers the European Commission has to establish criminal offences in legislation (a) which has direct effect in member states and (b) which member states are obliged to implement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 12 December 2005
	The European Court of Justice's judgement of 13 September this year confirmed that where application of criminal penalties is essential to ensure that Community rules are fully effective, measures relating to the criminal law may be adopted under the treaty establishing the European Community. The court also confirmed, however, that as a general rule criminal law matters do not fall within the Community's competence.
	The role of the European Commission is to propose legislation, which may then only be adopted in accordance with the relevant procedural provisions in the treaty. The Commission could present a proposal for a directive including a requirement for member states to establish criminal offences. If this proposal was consistent with the European Court of Justice's judgement of 13 September and if it was adopted by the Council (or the Council and Parliament in the case of co-decision), then member States would be obliged to implement the directive. Directives that are intended to confer rights on individuals can in some circumstances be relied upon in national courts by those individuals against the state where the state has failed to implement the directive by the prescribed implementation date, i.e. may give rise to direct effect. These conditions, however, would not be satisfied by the provisions of a directive which were concerned with the establishment of criminal offences rather than the creation of rights for individuals.

Female Circumcision

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by his Department in relation to the practice of British parents sending their daughters abroad for female circumcision.

Fiona Mactaggart: The recent Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, which strengthened and replaced the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 has been widely used to raise awareness of female genital mutilation. The Home Office, the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have together provided information about female genital mutilation to police forces and others in the Criminal Justice System; doctors and midwives throughout the country; local authority social services departments and the education sector; and consular staff. Information about female genital mutilationincluding signs that may indicate a child is being prepared for this to take place abroadis also contained in guidance that the Association of Chief Police Officers issued to its members in March 2005; and in Working Together to Safeguard Children, the main multi-agency guidance on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This guidance is currently being revised and is due to be published in December. Further guidance for consular staff is also being developed by the FCO, in conjunction with the police and social services.
	The Government also continue to fund voluntary organisations in the UK that are working to eradicate female genital mutilation.

Home Detention Curfews

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of the curfew period was for those released under the home detention curfew scheme in each year from 1999 to 2000 and 200405.

Fiona Mactaggart: The requested information is in the following table, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system.
	
		Average length of time (weeks) spent by an offender released on curfew, by year1 England and Wales
		
			  
		
		
			 2000 6.5 
			 2001 6.6 
			 2002 6.3 
			 2003 8.9 
			 2004 9.8 
			 2005(13) 10.3 
		
	
	(12) Data for 1999 is not centrally available.
	(13) Data shown for period up to 28 October 2005

Home Detention Curfews

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offenders on home detention curfew (HDC) failed to complete the HDC period successfully in 200405; and if he will list the reasons they failed to do so.

Fiona Mactaggart: Of the 33,743 offenders released on HDC from 1 January 2004 to 31 October 2005, 16 per cent. were recalled to custody during the curfew period, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system. The reasons why are as follows.
	Prisoners who are subject to the Home Detention Curfew scheme can have their licences revoked under the powers available to the Secretary of State provided in sections 38A(1) and 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The reasons for revocation are as follows:
	breach of the curfew (section 38A(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991);
	the prisoner has not breached the curfew, but their whereabouts could no longer be electronically monitoredgenerally because of a change of circumstances such as they had lost their address (section 38A(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991);
	it was necessary to protect the public from serious harm (section 38A(1)(c) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991);
	the curfewee had committed an offence or breached any other requirement of probation supervision (section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and for offenders sentenced for offences committed on or after 4 April 2005, section 254 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003). Curfewees who are charged with a new offence may also be recalled on any of the preceding grounds depending upon the circumstances of the case.

Immigration

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to decide the application by Shahid Hussain lodged in May 2004 for variation for leave to remain in the UK, reference LR1581008817.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate notified Mr Hussain of the decision in his case on 8 December 2005.

Immigration

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to decide the application of Robima Kouser, reference LK1600016626, for variation of leave to remain in the UK, lodged in May 2006.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate notified Mrs Kouser of the decision in her case on 9 December 2005.

Immigration

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the application of Nabila Bi Hussain (reference no. H110722T) lodged in May for indefinite leave to remain in the UK to be determined.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate notified Mrs Hussain of the outcome of her application on 8 December 2005.

Murder Sentences (Appeals)

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average cost of an appeal by an individual who pleaded guilty to murder and received a life sentence and then appealed against the sentence.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is not available as costs for such particular types of appeal are not separated out.

Offender Rehabilitation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list grants made to organisations in the Hampshire constabulary's area to promote rehabilitation of offenders in each of the last three years.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 9 November 2005
	This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Parole Board

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the Parole Board has processed in each month to date in 2005; and what the backlog of cases is.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of cases processed by the Parole Board each month for the period January 2005 to October 2005 is set out in the following table. The Parole Board does not have a backlog.
	
		
			  Total cases(14) 
		
		
			 January 1,322 
			 February 1,289 
			 March 1,303 
			 April 1,582 
			 May 926 
			 June 1,446 
			 July 1,715 
			 August 1,515 
			 September 1,577 
			 October 1,644 
		
	
	(14) The figures include both cases considered on the papers and cases where the prisoner has requested a review by means of an oral hearing.

Police

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the financial impact on policing in Brent of the Government's decision to pass costs from the security operations following the July bombings onto the Metropolitan Police.

Hazel Blears: We have made very clear that we would help the Metropolitan Police Authority with additional policing costs arising from the July bombings but that we would also expect the authority to contribute towards the costs. We made an initial payment of 10 million in October and in the light of costs incurred have now increased that to 30 million.
	Operational policing decisions are a matter for the chief officer of police.

Police

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the (a) chief constable and (b) police authority in Hertfordshire about structural re-organisation.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to all chief officers and chairs of police authorities in England and Wales on 22 September to set out his views on the development of options for force restructuring and to ask for proposals to be submitted to him by 23 December. Discussions with individual forces and authorities are ongoing at an official level.
	Final reports from forces and authorities are expected by 23 December. However, ultimately it will be a matter for the police authorities to determine which options are included in their final submissions.

Police

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors he took into account when limiting police forces in the West Midlands to two options for merger; and for what reasons West Mercia constabulary may not pursue other options.

Hazel Blears: The options submitted to the Home Office at the end of October by all forces and authorities in the West Midlands were assessed according to the design criteria in my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's letter of 22 September. The options were also assessed in accordance with the overall position in the West Midlands region and the need to produce a credible landscape nationally. On this basis I provided the steer that the West Midlands regional force option and the two strategic force option were the most viable options for the region and should be progressed further. Feedback was provided to forces and authorities in the West Midlands region on the 9 November that the west midlands regional option and the two strategic force option (West Midlands police force/Warwickshire police force : Staffordshire police force/West Mercia police force) were the most suitable for progression based on the evidence submitted at that stage.
	However, ultimately it is a matter for police authorities to decide which options are included in their final submissions on 23 December.

Police

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will postpone the reorganisation of police forces in Wales until the outcome in England has been assessed.

Hazel Blears: No. As England and Wales share a common criminal justice system and the new policing landscape has to be consistent with that, implementation of any police restructuring in Wales will be undertaken to the same timetable as that for England. We will continue to work closely with our Welsh parliamentary colleagues and our colleagues at the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure the particular needs of Wales are taken fully into account throughout.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether prisoners on the basic level of the incentives and earned privileges scheme are entitled to a one-hour visit every two weeks;
	(2)  how many prisoners do not have access to a one-hour visit every two weeks.

Fiona Mactaggart: Convicted prisoners on the basic level of the incentives and earned privileges scheme should normally receive two visits, each for a minimum of one hour, every four weeks. Unconvicted prisoners on the scheme have more generous allowances. Statistics on take up and length of visits are not collected.

Reasonable Force

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the police and prosecutors' publication of a leaflet to combat confusion about current legislation on the use of reasonable force in protecting persons and their property.

Fiona Mactaggart: 300,000 of the leaflets were printed earlier this year, and distributed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). A further 500,000 have recently been printed and are being distributed through local Criminal Justice Boards and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. In addition, the leaflet is available through the CPS and ACPO websites, with links on other websites including the Home Office website. Early informal feedback has been largely encouraging and the number of copies sought has been welcome.

Road Traffic Offences

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for driving without due care and attention (a) in England, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) the Kettering constituency in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: Available information for England and within the Northamptonshire police force area from 1997 to 2003 (latest available) is given in the following tables.
	It is not possible from data collected centrally to identify the constituency of Kettering within the geographical area covered by the Northamptonshire police force.
	Data for 2004 will not be available until March 2006.
	
		Table A: Proceedings at all courts for driving without due care and attention(15),England, 19972003
		
			  Number of offences 
		
		
			 1997 60,961 
			 1998 56,876 
			 1999 51,455 
			 2000 47,077 
			 2001 43,614 
			 2002 39,959 
			 2003 37,719 
		
	
	(15) Offence under s.3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988
	
		Table B: Proceedings for driving without due care and attention(16), Northamptonshire police force area, 19972003
		
			  Number of offences 
		
		
			 1997 482 
			 1998 252 
			 1999 290 
			 2000 228 
			 2001 84 
			 2002 42 
			 2003 227 
		
	
	(16) Offence under s.3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

Victim Support

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the work of Victim Support.

Fiona Mactaggart: Since 1997 the Home Office has nearly trebled its grant in aid to Victim Support from 11.7 million to 30 million annually. Victim Support is an independent charity and it takes decisions about how best to use its resources to raise public awareness of its work.
	Additionally the Department funded a project to research more effective ways to recruit volunteers. Recruitment materials developed were shown to be highly effective.
	The Department responds to a lot of correspondence from the public in which it highlights the work of Victim Support. The victim and witness walkthrough on the public cjsonline website highlights the work of Victim Support and we have placed a duty on the police, from April 2006, to refer relevant victims to Victim Support unless they request not to be referred.

Victims of Terrorism

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the review of the possible introduction of a scheme to provide compensation for UK victims of terrorism abroad will be completed.

Fiona Mactaggart: Our consultation paper 'Rebuilding Lives: supporting victims of crime', issued on 7 December, explained that the question of helping British victims of terrorism and other acts of violence abroad raised complex issues which we wanted to consider thoroughly. It went on to say that we would make an announcement in due course.

Women Prisoners

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many women were received into segregation in each prison in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005 to date;
	(2)  how many women were held in segregation for more than one week in each prison in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005 to date.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data on women received into segregation and on the number of women held in segregation for more than one week in each prison in 2004 and 2005 is shown in the following table.
	
		Women received into segregation in each prison in 2004 and 2005
		
			 Establishment 2004 2005(17) 
		
		
			 HMP/YOI Askham Grange 0 0 
			 HMP/YOI Brockhill 169 80 
			 HMP Bronzefield (18)105 178 
			 HMP Buckley Hall 217 87 
			 HMP Bullwood 15 16 
			 HMP Cookham Wood 143 113 
			 HMP/YOI Drake Hall 99 57 
			 HMP Downview 112 110 
			 HMP/YOI East Sutton Park 0 171 
			 HMP/YOI Eastwood Park 37 0 
			 HMP Foston Hall 58 49 
			 HMP/YOI Holloway 300 164 
			 HMP/YOI Low Newton 52 82 
			 HMP Morton Hall 21 13 
			 HMP New Hall 391 341 
			 HMP Peterborough 0 (19)106 
			 HMP Send 0 0 
			 HMP Styal 114 75 
		
	
	(17) As at 30 November 2005.
	(18) Establishment opened in June 2004.
	(19) Opened on 28 March 2005.

Work Permits

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2005, Official Report, columns 456W, on work permits, if he will break down the number of permits issued in each year by country of origin.

Tony McNulty: Figures for individuals working in social care are not identified separately. However work permits issued for the health care industry include social care approvals. The numbers of permits issued in each of the last five years by country of origin are presented in the following table.
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 Philippines 6,592 10,014 11,143 12,015 11,453 51,217 
			 India 1,939 4,137 6,482 9,835 13,479 35,872 
			 South Africa 2,880 4,134 5,720 5,881 4,949 23,564 
			 Zimbabwe 1,148 1,959 2,651 2,829 3,121 11,708 
			 Nigeria 1,046 1,328 1,818 1,510 1,563 7,265 
			 Australia 827 1,098 1,240 1,292 1,133 5,590 
			 Pakistan 391 799 862 962 1,393 4,407 
			 China Peoples Republic of 298 540 712 1,070 1,544 4,164 
			 Ghana 340 563 630 850 843 3,226 
			 Bulgaria 46 305 599 790 839 2,579 
			 United States of America 401 437 429 482 602 2,351 
			 New Zealand 390 488 536 504 397 2,315 
			 Zambia 178 345 461 523 589 2,096 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 470 433 391 383 336 2,013 
			 Others 3,015 3,996 4,782 5,517 6,252 23,562 
			 Total 19,961 30,576 38,456 44,443 48,493 181,929

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters are currently available to British troops in Afghanistan.

John Reid: British troops operating in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force have a number of air assets available to them, including helicopters which are provided by coalition partners. These helicopters are allocated according to tasking and operational priority. There are no UK Military helicopters currently based in Afghanistan.

Airfield Review

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of his airfield review.

Adam Ingram: The Defence airfield review is making good progress. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2055W.

Assessment Phase Work

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether companies undertaking Assessment Phase work are (a) reimbursed for the costs of that work and (b) undertake work at their own risk.

Adam Ingram: Companies conducting Assessment Phase work under contract agree the price in competition, by reference to market forces or where competition is not available under the policy on No Acceptable Price No Contract. When negotiating the contract terms and conditions risks are allocated between the company and the Ministry of Defence on the basis of who is best able to manage them. Companies who decide to carry out private venture work at their own risk do so as part of their normal business. The result of this work might later lead to a MOD contract in which case the company normally seeks to recover their costs through the commercial arrangements agreed at the time.

Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes to current staffing levels he expects will occur when the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory is relocated.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is currently consolidating its activities onto three core sites as part of the site rationalisation programme. Although, any relocation programme is bound to affect staff it is not expected that there will be a major change in the overall number of staff employed by Dstl. The number of staff employed is determined by the scope and content of its programme for MOD and Government.

Departmental Staff (Relocation)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what relocations involving more than 100 people are planned within his Department and its agencies in the next five years; and between which locations.

Don Touhig: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Drug Trafficking

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government will donate helicopters no longer needed to Uruguay to assist in the fight against drug trafficking.

Adam Ingram: There are currently no surplus helicopters available for disposal and no formal request from Uruguay has been received.
	All requests for gifting of surplus Defence equipment from overseas Governments are considered on their merits.

Hearing Loss

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what evidence he relied when setting the (a) threshold and (b) other rules that apply to compensation for veterans who have sustained a noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss as a result of their military service; and whether he consulted with any (i) veteran or (ii) disability group.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence's approach to the assessment of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss in the War Pensions Scheme reflects that of the Government as a whole and is based on contemporary scientific evidence and understanding. This has been confirmed in recent years by several reviews carried out by independent audiological experts including an Industrial Injuries Advisory Council review. The Ministry of Defence also routinely scrutinises the published peer reviewed literature to ensure that compensation policy and approaches continue to take account of contemporary evidence.
	The threshold for compensation for noise-induced hearing loss was introduced into the War Pensions Scheme in 1993. The Government consulted the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions on this change which formed part of a wider package of changes that included the removal of rank differentials from war disablement pensions and increases in the rate of disablements pensions above the rate of inflation; the most severely disabled other ranks gained most from these increases. The Central Advisory Committee is a statutory body whose role is to consider matters put before it by the Minister. It includes members from the principle ex-service organisations including those representing disabled veterans.
	I met Dr. John Low, chief executive of the RNID, on 25 October to discuss his organisation's concerns, including about the threshold for compensation. The RNID submitted a paper to the Department on 5 December. I will arrange to meet Dr. Low again in the new year once the Department has considered the RNID paper.

Iraq

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which organisation is in charge of the investigation into the deaths of the six Royal Military Police who werekilled at Al Majarr Al Kabir in Iraq on 24 June 2003;
	(2)  when charges will be brought against the killers of the six Royal Military Police who died at Al Majarr Al Kabir in Iraq on 24 June 2003.

Adam Ingram: The Central Criminal Court of Iraq will conduct the investigation into the deaths of the six Royal Military Police in Iraq on 24 June 2003. The Central Criminal Court of Iraq follows the 'investigative model' whereby an investigative judge directs and oversees the investigation before deciding whether to refer the case to the trial court. The case papers, which take account of the Royal Military Police investigation into the incident, have been lodged with the court, to enable the investigative stage to begin. It will be for the investigative judge to decide whether to refer the case to the trial court once this stage has concluded.

Iraq

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which UK organisations, including police forces, have been involved in the investigation into the deaths of six Royal Military Police who were killed at Al Majarr Al Kabir in Iraq on 24 June 2003.

Adam Ingram: The incident in which six Royal Military policemen were killed in Al Majarr Al Kabir on 24 June 2003 has been the subject of an investigation by the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch.
	Her Majesty's coroner will be holding an inquest into the deaths of the six soldiers in 2006.

IT Projects

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many IT projects have been developed for his Department since 2001; and whether he has agreed to make public (a) in full and (b) in part Gateway Reviews for these projects.

Adam Ingram: There is no central list of IT projects developed for the Department since 2001 and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Two major IT projects have been subject to the Gateway Review process, however, these are confidential to the Senior Responsible Owner and in line with Office of Government Commerce guidelines are not published as a matter of routine.

Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Programme

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the target date is for the submission of a Main Gate proposal for the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability programme.

Adam Ingram: The Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) project is in its Assessment Phase, the aim of which is to balance the key parameters of performance, cost and time. Proposals for a Main Gate investment decision will be made when we know with confidence the risks involved in building the MARS vessels, when we have a proper understanding of the costs involved and the implication in terms of the wider interface with other projects.

Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Programme

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Assessment Phase of the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability project is expected to be complete; whether it is considering (a) converting existing commercial ships and (b) building (i) hulls and (ii) complete ships abroad; and what the estimated cost of the assessment phase is.

Adam Ingram: The Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) project has only recently entered the Assessment Phase, the aim of which is to balance the key parameters of performance, cost and time. It is therefore too early to say what the final designs and specifications for these vessels might be and where the work will be carried out. We will use the assessment phase to look into the potential options, taking into account best value for money and wider industrial factors, before any decisions are made at the main gate investment point.
	We expect that we will spend up to 44 million during the MARS Assessment Phase.

Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Programme

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are members of the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Integrated Planning Team; and what the Team's budget is.

Adam Ingram: There are currently 43 members of Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) Integrated Project Team (IPT), although this figure is planned to rise to 54 by the end of this financial year. The MARS IPT has operating costs of some 2 million for this financial year, which includes staff costs and all associated administrative expenditure.

Nuclear Weapons

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Government want to retain nuclear weapons.

John Reid: The Government's policy on nuclear weapons was set out in the 1998 strategic defence review. In the 2003 Defence White Paper (at paragraph 3.11), we set out our position as follows:
	We are committed to working towards a safer world in which there is no requirement for nuclear weapons and continue to play a full role in international efforts to strengthen arms control and prevent the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. However, the continuing risk from the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the certainty that a number of other countries will retain substantial nuclear arsenals, mean that our minimum nuclear deterrent capability, currently represented by Trident, is likely to remain a necessary element of our security.
	The Government are committed to retaining the independent nuclear deterrent.

Nuclear-related Research

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has allocated towards nuclear-related research in each of the last five years.

John Reid: Expenditure on nuclear-related research funded by the Ministry of Defence over the last five years amounts to the following:
	
		
			 Financial year Approx expenditure, 200506 prices ( million) 
		
		
			 200001 87 
			 200102 123 
			 200203 63 
			 200304 62 
			 200405 79

Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1263W, on the Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle, how many of the 401 vehicles ordered will replace (a) the Spartan, (b) the Truck Utility Medium (Landrover), (c) the Saxon and (d) the FV432 and FV436.

Adam Ingram: Under current plans, we expect the PANTHER Command and Liaison Vehicle to replace the following numbers of in-service vehicles operating in command and liaison roles:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 (a) Spartan 137 
			 (b) Truck Utility Medium (Landrover) 225 
			 (c) Saxon 3 
			 (d) FV432 31 
			 (e) FV436 5

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the definitions are of the terms (a) 'in service date' and (b) 'initial operating capability' as used in parliamentary answers.

Adam Ingram: As defined on the MOD's Acquisition Management System website (www.ams.mod.uk), In Service Date (ISD) is declared when the military capability provided by the system is assessed as available for operational use. Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is the state achieved when the military capability is available in its minimum useful deployable form. The specific requirements for ISD and IOC will vary between projects depending on the nature of the role and the equipment in question, and are agreed at the point when the main investment decision is taken (referred to as Main Gate). Different definitions may have been used in projects begun before the introduction of SMART acquisition.

Project Hyperion

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much was allocated for setting up the collocated Army headquarters under Project Hyperion; and whether this budget has been revised;
	(2)  what changes to staffing levels will take place when the collocated Army headquarters are operational under Project Hyperion.

Adam Ingram: It is too early to be precise about the impact on staffing levels. For planning purposes, we assume that collocation will lead to a reduction of at least 240 civilian and 100 military posts. However, the Army is still determining the possible size and structure of the new HQ organisation and we are unlikely to make an announcement until late 2006. Similarly, project costs and the budget for Project Hyperion continue to be refined and will be confirmed at Main Gate, which is unlikely to occur before November 2006.

Royal Air Force

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the posts based at RAF High Wycombe which areexpected to move to other RAF units by 2008 will berelocated; and how many such posts will be relocated.

Adam Ingram: Currently, there are 103 posts expected to relocate from RAF High Wycombe. The final location for these posts is yet to be decided.

Royal Air Force

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was allocated for setting up the collocated RAF headquarters; and whether this budget has been revised.

Adam Ingram: 23.9 million was allocated from the Defence Modernisation Fund to set up the collocated Royal Air Force Headquarters. This has not been revised.

Submarines

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the recommendations by RAND to co-ordinate the Royal Navy's submarine design work with the United States of America.

Adam Ingram: As a result of the RAND recommendations put forward in their report on sustaining design and production resources, a statement of intent (SoI) for co-operation and exchange between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain on submarine concepts, design and construction was signed on 7 October 2005.
	The SoI records the intention to work, to mutual advantage, in developing working relationships and agreements that enable the sharing of analysis and data on submarine platform and equipment requirements, concepts and design.
	Additionally, the SoI provides for the benefits of interoperability and synergy in submarine construction, equipment production and logistic support to be maximised. Such work will not compromise the retention of submarine design capability in this country.

Ty Gwyn Nursing Home

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Welsh Assembly Government regarding the closure of the Ty Gwyn nursing home for ex-servicemen suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Don Touhig: MOD officials are in discussion with officials from the Department of Health and the devolved Administrations about the provision of services for former service personnel suffering from mental illness resulting from their service. They have not yet had the opportunity to discuss in detail the question of the closure of Ty Gwyn, which was one of a number of facilities with the capability for treating ex-service personnel suffering from PTSD. However, the question of whether its closure leaves any gaps in the capability for treating ex-service personnel suffering from PTSD is one of the subjects for discussion at a meeting planned for 19 December.

US Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what authority UK military police forces have in United States military bases situated in the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: The UK military police have lawful authority to arrest an individual suspected of a criminal offence if that person is subject to UK military law. The power is set out in the Service Discipline Acts. The United States visiting force is not subject to the Service Discipline Acts.
	Under Article VII of the Agreement regarding the Status of Forces of the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty (SOFA), the United States visiting force stationed in the United Kingdom have the right to police the premises which they occupy and may take all appropriate measures to ensure the maintenance of order and security on such premises. Where there are no United States policing and security forces present, or a significant threat exists from demonstrator activity, the United States forces have agreed that the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) can undertake the policing task on their behalf.
	The MDP is a statutory British police force with constabulary powers as defined in the MDP Act 1987, as amended by the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. Although the MDP can exercise these constabulary powers, incidents solely involving United States visiting force personnel and associated civilians will normally be handled by the United States authorities in accordance with SOFA.

US-registered Aircraft

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions since September 2001 US-registered aircraft tail number (a) N313P and (b) N44982, formerly N8068V and N379P, has landed at United Kingdom military airfields with (i) Kabul and (ii) Baghdad as its (A) origin and (B) destination;
	(2)  on how many occasions since September 2001 US-registered aircraft tail number (a) N313P and (b) N44982, formerly N8068V and N379P, has landed at United Kingdom military airfields with an airport in (i) Jordan, (ii) Syria, (iii) Romania and (iv) Poland as its (A) origin and (B) destination;
	(3)  on how many occasions since September 2001 US-registered aircraft tail number (a) N313P and (b) N44982, formerly N8068V and N379P, has landed at United Kingdom military airfields with an airport in (i) Libya, (ii) Uzbekistan, (iii) Morocco and (iv) Egypt as its (A) origin and (B) destination.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Cemeteries (Gravesham)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the parish council in Gravesham about the re-use of cemeteries.

Harriet Harman: We have no record of an approach by a parish council in Gravesham on this matter. In my statement on 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 3WS, I set out our immediate plans for taking forward our plans for burial law reform, including the question of re-using old burial grounds.

Criminal Cases (Competitive Tendering)

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will publish the advice her Department has received on the impact on ethnic diversity in the legal professions of the introduction of competitive tendering for criminal cases; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Lord Chancellor has asked Lord Carter of Coles to produce a plan to reform to the way publicly funded legal advice and representation are procured by the state.
	The Legal Services Commission has commissioned research on ethnic diversity that includes an assessment of the possible impact of competitive tendering on legal aid firms that are owned or controlled by ethnic minorities. The Commission will publish this research once Lord Carter has reported early next year.
	We want to see a fair and sustainable legal aid system that provides access to justice for all who need it, gives the taxpayer value for money and is fair for practitioners.
	We also want to see a legal profession that is more reflective of the society it serves. On 23 November, I published a report Increasing Diversity in the Legal Profession setting out what steps the Government will take to achieve this.

Criminal Justice Act

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many sentences have been passed under Part 12 Chapter 5 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003; and what guidance has been provided by (a) the Government and (b) the courts on the assessment of dangerousness in section 229 of that Act.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have been asked to reply.
	Between April 2005 (when the legislation was implemented) and October 2005, 321 prisoners were received into custody under an extended sentence and 220 prisoners were received under a sentence of imprisonment or detention for public protection.
	The Government have not published any guidance on the assessment of dangerousness in section 229 of the Act. The Court of Appeal recently considered the dangerous offender provisions in the guideline case of R v. Lang and 12 others (Times November 10). The court set out several principles that courts should consider when deciding if an offender met the criteria of dangerousness as required by the Act.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps are taken by the Department to support staff with mental ill-health.

Bridget Prentice: The Department for Constitutional Affairs has a robust framework of policies, internal services and links with external service providers, which are designed to provide practical and timely support for employees with mental health problems. This framework is equally applicable to employees who suffer from other forms of disability or health problems.
	This framework includes the managing attendance policy and policies in respect of disability, work/life balance and stress at work.
	The DCA has a nation-wide network of human resources advisors, local disability advisors, and welfare officers, all of whom have extensive experience of working with and supporting people with mental health problems. The DCA uses its external occupational health service providers to obtain clinical and employment-related advice tailored to specific individual circumstances. Workplace assessments and risk assessments are available to individuals wherever appropriate.
	The DCA makes appropriate use of the access to work and workstep programmes available through the Department of Work and Pensions.
	In addition the DCA has a disability network, which is a staff network which actively provides ongoing support for employees with physical and mental health issues.

Effective Trial Management Programme

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the progress of the Effective Trial Management programme; and if she will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have been asked to reply.
	The Effective Trial Management programme has supported all criminal justice areas in considering the Criminal Case Management Framework issued jointly by the Attorney General, Lord Chancellor, Baroness Scotland and the Lord Chief Justice in July 2004. All criminal justice areas have now produced their local case management schemes based on the national framework, 33 areas have implemented their schemes and all areas will have implemented their schemes by January 2006.
	The early results are promising and indicate reductions in headline ineffective trial rates. For example: in the Crown Court there have been percentage point reductions of 11.1 in Merseyside, 7.2 in Manchester, 7.0 Bedfordshire, 6.0 in Essex and 5.8 in Nottinghamshire. In the magistrates courts we have seen percentage point reductions of 9.0 in Merseyside, 8.2 in Humberside, 6.3 in Nottinghamshire, 5.8 in Manchester and the West Midlands. (Figures are based on an annual average prior to the implementation of ETMP compared with a rolling monthly average after the implementation of ETMP, gathered by the PSA1 Performance Branch of the DCA).
	Evaluations of each area's scheme are underway and a full national evaluation will be produced by July 2006.

Probate Costs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2005, Official Report, column 1339W, on probate costs, why the fee structure for grant of probate in Northern Ireland is calculated on a different basis from England and Wales; and what the sliding scale system operating in Northern Ireland is.

Bridget Prentice: The fee structure payable in respect of applications for grant of probate has differed historically between Northern Ireland and England and Wales.
	In Northern Ireland fees for an application for grant of probate are charged on a sliding scale depending on the assessed value of the estate as follows:
	
		
			 Assessed value Probate Fee () 
		
		
			 Does not exceed 10,000 Nil 
			 Exceeds 10,000 but does not exceed 25,000 75.00 
			 Exceeds 25,000 but does not exceed 40,000 145.00 
			 Exceeds 40,000 but does not exceed 70,000 260.00 
			 Exceeds 70,000 but does not exceed 100,000 330.00 
			 Exceeds 100,000 but does not exceed 200,000 410.00 
		
	
	An additional fee of 65.00 is taken for each 100,000 or part thereof where the assessed value exceeds 200,000.

Small Claims Court

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made with research on raising the small claims court limit from 1,000; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Better Regulation Task Force in its report, 'Better Routes to Redress' recommended that research should be carried out into the potential impact of raising the small claims limit for personal injury cases from the current limit of 1000. The Government indicated that it would carry out this research, and would also consider other options for dealing with these claims in a more proportionate and cost effective way.
	The Government will be consulting shortly.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Expenditure

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Department and its agencies have spent on (a) the design and production of new logos and (b) employing external (i) public relations and (ii) graphic design agencies in each year since 2000, broken down by project.

David Cairns: Some costs were incurred on a logo for the Friends of Scotland project which was under the responsibility of the Scotland Office until 2003 when this was taken over by the Scottish Executive. Figures on logo costs for this project are not readily available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. The Scotland Office has not incurred any other costs on design and production of new logos or employed external public relations or graphic design agencies.

Departmental Tendering Policy

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his policy is on including (a) ethical and (b) environmental factors in tenders for services.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office takes full advantage of contracts negotiated by the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), depending on the services being purchased. Thus, the Executive or DCA would generally take the lead in such matters.
	However, the Scotland Office expects to let all its contracts in accordance with ethical principles, and would consider any case where evidence to the contrary was presented. Environmental factors in contracts let by the office would be considered on a case by case basis relative to the subject matter of the contract, and the requirements of Community law.

Devolution

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what devolution issues the Advocate-General has considered since 15 November.

David Cairns: Since 15 November, 62 devolution issues have been intimated to the Advocate-General for Scotland.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking in collaboration with other EU member states to honour the EU commitment to provide African, Caribbean and Pacific countries with viable non-reciprocal alternatives to economic partnership agreements.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government's policy on alternatives to Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) was made clear in our position of March 2005. We believe that the European Commission should be ready to provide an alternative to an EPA at the request of any African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) country. Any alternative offered should provide no worse market access to the EU than is currently enjoyed under Cotonou preferences.
	The deadline for any ACP country to request an alternative has been extended from 2004 to the end of 2006, at the request of the ACP themselves. To date, no ACP countries have requested an alternative, nor disengaged from the ongoing EPA negotiations.
	However, DFID has already supported research to feed an independent assessment into the debate on what steps would be needed to make one of the non-reciprocal alternative optionsthe generalised system of preferences (GSP) schemea viable alternative to EPAs. In addition, a formal and comprehensive review of EPAs will be undertaken by the EU and ACP in 2006 to check that the negotiations and preparations are on track. In the context of this review, the UK will actively encourage the European Commission and other EU member states, to consider all possible alternative options available, particularly if requested by any ACP country.

African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what financial support the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will receive from the EU as a result of the reformed sugar regime in the years after 200607; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  from which fund the accompanying measures for the 18 African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar protocol countries will be drawn; when the funds will be available; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the extent to which the EU funding for African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar group nations will enable them to develop adequate transitional programmes; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what EU procedures will be used for disbursing support for African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar groupnations; what steps are being taken to avoid delays in the disbursement of funds; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what criteria will be used by the EU to determine how the transitional support for African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar group countries will be allocated.

Gareth Thomas: The European Commission will be providing transitional assistance to those African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) who will lose out as a result of reform, to help them to adjust to the change in price. The Commission have proposed 40 million of funding for transitional assistance in 2006, which is still being debated by the European Parliament and EU member states. While the Commission has indicated that funding for 2007 to 2013 will be more substantial, the exact amount will be decided as part of the debate over the next financial perspective. The UK Government will be aiming to achieve appropriate levels of funding as part of this broader agreement.
	In its draft regulation of June 2005, the Commission proposed that the 40 million of funding for 2006 would come from the Commission's external relations budget. While the Commission has not yet made any official announcements about how much funding it will propose for 2007 to 2013, it has proposed that this should be funded out of the new Development Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Instrument (also in the external relations budget).
	Assistance will be delivered through country-specific plans, which are to be 'elaborated in the country itself, in dialogue with the Commission'. In order to avoid delays in the disbursement of transitional assistance funding, the Commission is aiming to provide part of its funding to ACP countries in the form of budget support where this is appropriate.
	The Commission expects that the 2006 funds will be available before the end of 2006. The exact timing will depend in part on the speed with which the sugar protocol countries complete their action plans. DFID are providing over 250,000 to the six sugar protocol countries in the Caribbean to help them complete these plans in a timely manner.
	The Commission stated in their draft regulation that allocation will be based on the needs of each country, related in particular to the impact of the reform on the sugar sector in the country concerned, and to the importance of the sugar sector in the economy. We expect more detailed criteria to be determined in the New Year.

Central Asia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on support to local non-governmental organisations in Central Asia; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID's policy in Central Asia is set out in our Regional Assistance Plan for Central Asia, South Caucasus and Moldova (2004 to 2007). DFID aims to support civil society in Central Asia, including local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to improve the accountability and responsiveness of Governments to their citizens. This includes their participation in the drafting, implementation and monitoring of nationally-led poverty reduction policy processes.
	In the Kyrgyz Republic, DFID's programme includes work with local NGOs in the areas of public financial management, service delivery and sustainable livelihoods, and rural water and sanitation schemes. In Tajikistan, our support to NGOs is largely through community development and livelihoods programmes, and third party arbitration courts. We are also working with local NGOs through a regional HIV/ AIDS programme in Central Asia. This programme has just begun in Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and will run to 2008.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords were dealt with by his Department in each year since 1995; in respect of the percentage his Department took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members and Peers correspondence. The report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 13740ws. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.
	DFID's public inquiry point has received the following correspondence from members of the public over the years in question:
	
		
			  Letters to PEP Campaign letters to PEP TOs copied to PEP Total 
		
		
			 2001 3,917 1,645  5,562 
			 2002 1,657 2,282  3,939 
			 2003 2,201 630 615 3,446 
			 2004 1,234 2,583 257 4,074 
			 2005(20) 1,608 3,748 278 5,634 
		
	
	(20) January to November.
	Information on turnaround times is not held centrally and would incur a disproportionate cost to obtain.
	DFID's parliamentary unit endeavours to reply to all parliamentary questions within parliamentary deadlines where possible. The information requested is not held centrally and would also incur a disproportionate cost to obtain.

Departmental Estate

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) 200506 and (ii) 200607; and what the expected costs are of each project.

Gareth Thomas: The currently planned building and refurbishment projects are as follows:
	
		
		
			  Planned spend 
			  200506 200607 Total planned spend 
		
		
			 Building projects
			 New officeNigeria (Kano) 475,000 1.2 million 2.6 million 
			 New officePakistan 1.63 million 340,000 1.97 million 
			 New officeDemocratic Republic of Congo 750,000 700,000 1.8 million 
			 New officeEthiopia 1.7 million 900,000 3.8 million 
			 New officeMozambique 340,000 2 million 2.8 million 
			 New officeUganda 70,000 1.1 million 2.7 million 
			 New officeAfghanistan 300,000 100,000 0.4 million 
			 New officeZimbabwe 100,000 1.3 million 3.3 million 
			 New officeJerusalem Nil 900,000 1.7 million 
			 New officeBangladesh (21) (21) 5.0 million 
			 
			 Refurbishment projects
			 Sudan office 300,000 1.4 million 1.9 million 
			 Sierra Leone office 1 million 800,000 2.6 million 
			 Abercrombie House, East Kilbride 740,000  740,000 
		
	
	(21) To be confirmed, still at planning stage.

Global Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will increase the UK contributions to the Global Fund to the level of the contribution of the French Government.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has no further plans at the moment to increase the UK's contribution to the Global Fund. Prior to the Replenishment Conference in September, the Global Fund calculated that on the basis of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the UK would have to contribute US$320 million for 2006 and 2007equivalent to 4.5 per cent. of the Global Fund' s resource needs for the period 1 . At the conference we increased our pledge to exceed our GDP fair shareto US$344 million for the replenishment period.
	The Global Fund is just one instrument to channel funds for AIDS, TB and malaria. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) the UK was the second largest donor, of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) country-members, providing direct bilateral support for HIV and AIDS to recipient countries in 2004. Of US$2.7 billion provided by DAC members in 2004 the UK contributed 20.5 per cent., second only to the US at 49.6 per cent. 2 In comparison the French Government provided 0.9 per cent.
	The UK Government is committed to spending at least 1.5 billion over the next three years in AIDS related work, including our pledge to the Global Fund. Most of our spending on AIDS will go direct to developing countries, through Government, non governmental organisations or the private sector.
	With regards to malaria and TB, DFID is a board member of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM). We have contributed 48.5 million to the RBM since 1999. We have pledged 7 million to the Stop TB Partnership through to 2008.
	1 The Global Fund Voluntary Replenishment 2005 Technical Note 2: Contribution Scenarios June 2005, Page 5.
	2 UNAIDS Resource Needs for an Expanded Response to AIDS in Low and Middle Income Countries August 2005, page 9. Note: these data exclude contributions to the Global Fund.

Global Fund

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the outcome of the Global Fund Replenishment Conference held in London in September.

Gareth Thomas: I refer the hon. Member for St. Ives to the response given to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Tony Lloyd) on 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 1294W and the written ministerial statement I made to Parliament on 26 October.

Maldives

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government has provided to the Maldives since the tsunami.

Gareth Thomas: DFID provided emergency support to the Maldives immediately after the tsunami, totalling 1,664,000. This has been given to several UN agencies and also for the provision of transportation material (see following table for details). We have also encouraged the provision of further assistance for longer-term reconstruction through the European Commission.
	UK emergency humanitarian assistance to the Maldives has comprised:
	
		
		
			 Partner Activity Amount 
		
		
			 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Emergency waste management 400,000 
			 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Restoration of livelihoods 500,000 
			  Landing craft and engineering equipment including airlift 550,000 
			 The World Health Organisation (WHO) Specialist disaster preparedness and epidemiological staff 105,000 
			  Air transport costs for Scottish water 40 MT water and collapsible water cans 81,000 
			 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Water and sanitation engineer seconded to UNICEF for three months 28,000 
			 UNICEF A proportion of 4 million to UNICEF for water and sanitation in Indonesia, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Maldives

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Government has provided to the people of the Maldives to promote democratic governance; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Maldives is the richest country in South Asia and the Department for International Development does not maintain a regular programme there. Our support focuses upon poorer countries where we can have a greater impact upon poverty.
	Her Majesty's Government is however, supporting and encouraging democratic and political reform in the Maldives. The British high commissioner in Colombo is accredited to the Maldives and maintains a regular dialogue with the Government there. Most recently, on 12 December, in his capacity as the local EU presidency, he led a delegation of European Union Ambassadors and Heads of Mission to Male to discuss democratic reform with President Gayoom. We will continue to promote and support the process of democratic reform in the Maldives, bilaterally and with EU partners.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC Charter

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it a requirement of BBC Charter renewal that (a) BBC websites and (b) BBC radio channels made available on-line are available free of charge only to licence payers.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 5 December 2005
	The Government have no plans to make the renewal of the BBC Charter conditional on the Corporation restricting access to BBC online content to licence fee payers or to United Kingdom residents.
	However, the grant received by the BBC World Service from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office already includes an element towards the cost of making BBC online services available outside the UK.

Iraqi Heritage Sites

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will raise the issue of the protection of Iraqi heritage sites with other EU Ministers during her chairmanship of the Education Youth and Culture Council.

Tessa Jowell: The Education Youth and Cultural Council was held on 14 November. The subject of the protection of Iraqi heritage sites would not have been an appropriate agenda item for this meeting, which is concerned with EU business only.
	However, when I have been made aware of potential damage to the heritage of Iraq, I have written to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary requesting that he bring these concerns to the attention of those countries who had troops serving in the area, under the auspices of the multi national force, and emphasising that we should impress upon others the importance of caring properly for Iraq's heritage and the urgent need to protect its sites. As a result, the Foreign Office has raised these concerns with the relevant countries concerned.
	The UK takes very seriously the need to respect Iraq's cultural heritage. The Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003, introduced in response to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, makes it an offence to be in possession of illegally removed Iraqi cultural property, or to knowingly trade in such material.

Public Bodies/Agencies

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff were employed by non-departmental public bodies and agencies for which she has responsibility in 200405 in (a) total and (b) each (i) nation and (ii) region of the UK and (c) London.

David Lammy: Total Executive NDPB staff numbers by department as at 31 March 2005 are recorded in table 2 of Public Bodies 2005, a copy of which is in the House Libraries, and which is available online at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/the_future_of_the_civil_service/agencies_and_publi_bodies/publications/pdf/public-bodie s/publicbodies2005.pdf.
	The number of staff in individual executive agencies as at 1 April 2004, including a regional analysis, is available in Civil Service Statistics 2004 which was published in February 2005, a copy of which is in House Libraries. It is also available online at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_service/statistics/contents_f or_civil_service_statistics_2004_report/number_of_civi l_servants/index.asp.
	However, the NDPB data do not detail the regional breakdowns requested. This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

Disabled People (Life Chances)

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the initial activity undertaken by his Department in response to those recommendations in the Prime Minister's strategy unit report improving the life chances of disabled people where lead responsibility was assigned to all Government departments.

Jim Murphy: Since publication of the report in January 2005 the Department launched the 10-point planDelivering a diverse civil serviceon 1 November 2005 that included a target for 3.2 percent., of the senior civil service to be people with disabilities. The plan includes a number of actions that will promote the recruitment and retention and career development of people with disabilities.
	The Better Regulation Executive and the e-Government Unit provide guidance about consulting with diverse groups in policy development and service delivery.
	The Cabinet Office will be developing plans to meet the new public sector duty to promote disability equality. The department will also work with the new Office for Disability Issues in delivering the strategy unit report recommendations that are assigned to all departments.

EU Presidency Team

Ian Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many staff work in the EU Presidency Team within the Cabinet Office; what the (a) civil service grade and (b) job description is of each; and how many are agency or contract staff;
	(2)  what the (a) total and (b) staff budget is for the EU Presidency Team within the Cabinet Office; if he will break this down by individual budget line; what the purpose of the team is; and when it was created.

Jim Murphy: There are three full-time staff in the EU Presidency Team located within the European Secretariat which is based within the Cabinet Office, one at Band A (formerly known as Grade 7 or Principal), one at B2 (Faststream), and one at C2 (formerly known as Administrative or Clerical Officer). None are agency staff. The pay budget for this team in 200506 is approximately 100,000. Other costs for this team were 13,464. The Band A worked on the Presidency part-time from January 2004, and was joined by the B2 in August 2004 and the C2 in January 2005. The objective of the team was to coordinate the planning, preparation and delivery of the UK Presidency of the EU across Whitehall and the devolved Administrations. The team will be wound up in the first few months of 2006.

Hampton Report

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the oral answer of 6 December 2005, Official Report, columns 73738, on the Hampton Report, how many (a) annual inspections of and (b) forms sent to businesses he expects will be undertaken when the recommendations of the Hampton Report are fully implemented.

Jim Murphy: The Government's better regulation agenda, which includes the implementation of both 'Less is More' and Philip Hampton's recommendations, is focused on lighter-touch regulation, concentrating on cases where action is needed. The Government have no specific numerical target for the number of forms or inspections carried out following the implementation of these reports, but reducing the number of unnecessary forms and inspections is a central part of its agenda.
	As set out in the better regulation action plan announced in May this year, Departments and regulators have been asked to publish simplification plans, containing information about the number of forms they send to businesses and the measures being taken to reduce their burden. All plans will be published by Pre-Budget Report 2006.
	Philip Hampton's report recommended that regulators act proportionately, in accordance with an open and transparent risk assessment process. The principles of proportionality and openness are to be included in the forthcoming Regulatory Reform Bill, and have already been incorporated into the regulatory impact assessment process that Departments have to follow.
	The implementation of 'Less is More', which will in due course lead to a target for the reduction of administrative burdens, will also drive this work forward.

Ministerial Travel

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the total cost of congestion charges paid for ministerial travel has been since the charge was introduced; and how much of that total is accounted for by travel by the Prime Minister.

Jim Murphy: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive Mr. Roy Burke to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Office for Disability Issues

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether a Minister in his Department is planned to be nominated to take responsibility for liaison with the Office for Disability Issues; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: Cabinet Office participated jointly with the Departments of Work and Pensions; Health; Education and Skills; and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the research and publication of the report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People. The report initiated the setting up of the Office for Disability Issues (ODI).
	The Departments of Work and Pensions; Health; Education and Skills; and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are now the main stakeholders in the implementation of the report's recommendations.
	Cabinet Office will be implementing the recommendations where lead responsibility was assigned to all Government Departments. Officials will liaise directly with the ODI and report as necessary to Ministers.

Prime Minister's Delivery Unit

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit in each year since its inception; and what its functions are.

Jim Murphy: The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (PMDU) was set up at the end of June 2001. Information on the amounts it has spent since it was set up are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Amount spent () 
		
		
			 200102 955,000 
			 200203 3,106,000 
			 200304 3,576,000 
			 200405 3,673,000 
		
	
	PMDU's role is to help departments ensure delivery of my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister's top public service priorities, in particular, delivery of the Prime Minister's top 2005 and 2008 public service outcomes; the unit is also working to increase capacity to drive delivery in the centre, departments and delivery agencies.

True North Project

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on procurement project True North and what the cost of this project has been.

Jim Murphy: True North was the title of a project to procure services from the private sector for a data centre and managed hosting of Cabinet Office information technology applications that are shared across Government and public sector organisations. The contract for this service was awarded to a company called ITNet UK Ltd. On 25 July 2003 and valued at 83 million.
	The Cabinet Office terminated the contract on 28 June 2004 for delays and other breaches of the contract by ITNet. An agreement to settle the dispute was reached on 29 July 2005. No payments were made to either side as part of the settlement agreement.
	The delivery of operational services was not affected by the cancellation of the True North contract or the dispute.
	The Cabinet Office made one single payment of 5 million to ITNet under the True North contract.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Administrative Savings

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what administrative savings have been made by his Department in each of the last eight years.

Douglas Alexander: The 2000 Spending Review set the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) an efficiency target of 3 percent. of its budget over for 200203 and 200304. The savings were identified in areas such as procurement, reviewing staff requirements and internal markets. Corresponding adjustments were then made to Directorate's allocations. Savings amounted to:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200102 7.0 
			 200203 12.2 
		
	
	In the 2002 Spending Review, the FCO committed to save 2.5 percent. on its administration budget year on year. This was mirrored in the FCO's internal resource allocation: Directorates were allocated resources to meet new requirements and challenges but were required to find 2.5 percent. efficiency savings.
	This amounted to:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200304 19.7 
			 200405 19.9 
		
	
	The FCO also saved an additional 6.6 million in 200405 as part of the efficiency plan agreed in the 2004 Spending Review.
	Systematic data on efficiency savings realised (as opposed to planned) for the financial years before 200102 is not available and could not be reconstituted except at a disproportionate cost.

Assets (Corruption)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department has given developing countries as to how they can seek assistance from the United Kingdom in investigating, freezing and confiscating the assets of criminal origin which are believed to be located in the United Kingdom.

Ian Pearson: The United Kingdom is able to provide a full range of legal assistance to investigative, prosecutorial and judicial authorities in other countries and territories for thepurposes of criminal investigations and criminal proceedings. The Home Office has placed mutual legal assistance guidelines on the internet which give detailed information about how assistance can be obtained from the United Kingdom. These guidelines also include information regarding restraint and confiscation procedures in the United Kingdom. More information can be found at http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/mutual-lega l-assistance/?version=l.

British Antarctic Territory

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visitors to the British Antarctic Territory there were in each of the last eight years, broken down by purpose of visit.

Douglas Alexander: Visits to the British Antarctic Territory are held under the Antarctic treaty. The UK does not therefore monitor the number or type of visits undertaken to the Territory. All visits by British expeditions, ships or aircraft to any part of Antarctica, must be in accordance with the Antarctic Act 1994.
	The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) has published the following figures on tourist visitors to Antarctica. IAATO estimates that around 80 percent. of these are to the British Antarctic Territory:
	
		
			 Antarctic austral season Number of visitors(22) 
		
		
			 199798 9,604 
			 199899 10,013 
			 19992000 13,826 
			 200001 12,248 
			 200102 11,588 
			 200203 13,571 
			 200304 19,486 
			 200405 23,175 
		
	
	(22) Estimated actual figures.
	In addition, scientists from around 20 countries undertake scientific studies within the British Antarctic Territory. The number of visitors supporting British scientific activities in the British Antarctic Territory is as follows:
	
		
			 Antarctic austral season Number of visitors 
		
		
			 199798 385 
			 199899 389 
			 19992000 385 
			 200001 388 
			 200102 390 
			 200203 365 
			 200304 355 
			 200405 423

British Embassies (Overnight Visitors)

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the people who stayed one or more nights at the British embassy in Washington in 200405.

Ian Pearson: We have compiled a list of official visitors who stayed one or more nights at the British ambassador's residence, Washington, between January 2004 and November 2005. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Burma

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to support the recommendations made in the Havel-Tutu report on Burma.

Ian Pearson: We fully support US efforts to secure discussion of Burma by the United Nations (UN) Security Council. We believe that such a discussion, including covering the human rights situation, would increase the pressure on the Burmese regime to effect genuine change. It would send a powerful signal to the Burmese leadership that the UN Security Councilthe body with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and securityis concerned about the situation in Burma.

Cameroon

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to (i) encourage the continued development of a multi-party democracy in Cameroon and (ii) promote the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections at local and national level.

Douglas Alexander: The UK is working hard with international partners to strengthen democracy in Cameroon.
	In the past 18 months, the UK has supported activities to ensure the October 2004 presidential elections were more free and fair than previous elections. The main projects involved funding 180,000 towards the provision of 25,000 transparent ballot boxes with tamper-proof coded seals and 22,000 for the publication of the Cameroonian National Election Observatory's report, to demonstrate that the organisation was able to carry out a critical analysis of the electoral process. In common with other diplomatic missions, the British high commission sent out a team of 12 to observe the elections in five of the ten provinces. We co-ordinated closely with our EU, G8 and Commonwealth partners. We intend to continue such observation in the future.
	The Cameroonian Government has recognised the need to reform the electoral law and we remain committed to assisting, principally through the Commonwealth. Our priorities are to see a revised electoral code and the introduction of an Independent Electoral Commission to organise future elections, which will support the development of a multi-party democracy in Cameroon.

Catering/Entertainment Contracts

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total value is of (a) catering and (b) entertainment contracts let by his Department; and what value of such contracts has been let in each nation and region of the UK, including London.

Douglas Alexander: The value of catering contracts let by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for the current financial year (200506) in relation to the provision of catering and canteen facilities at its offices in London and Milton Keynes amounts to 1,625,096. Of this, 1,337,756 relates to the catering contract for the offices in London and 287,340 relates to catering contracted for the offices in Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes. The cost to the FCO, via the subsidy paid to the contractor for the catering facilities at these sites, amounts to 154,848 (128,592 for London and 26,256 for Milton Keynes).
	The FCO delegates budgets for entertainment to individual internal departments and does not therefore hold a centralised record of contracts on entertainment. This information could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

China

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has ruled out supporting the lifting of the EU embargo on arms exports to China; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government support the decision of the European Council in December 2003 to review the EU Arms Embargo on China. This review is ongoingit was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 13 December. The Government do not wish to exclude any options for the review, nor to pre-empt the conclusion of the review. There is no consensus at present in the EU for lifting the embargo. Further consultations in the EU and with other international partners are necessary before any decision is taken. The European Council Conclusions in December 2004 stated that any decision on the arms embargo would not result in an increase of arms exports to China in either quantitative or qualitative terms.

China

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations he has (a) made and (b) plans to make to the Government of the People's Republic of China about the Law on Population and Birth Planning; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he last raised the issue of article 18 of the Law on Population and Birth Planning with the Government of China; what response he received; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government have not made representations to the Chinese Government about China's right or need to implement family planning policies. We believe that China's family planning policies should be based on the principle of consent, and not coercion, as espoused by the International Conference on Population and Development. In this context, we are concerned about reports of enforced sterilisation and abortion. The EU, under the UK's presidency, raised the case of Chen Guangcheng, a lawyer who revealed information about forced abortions and sterilisations in Linyi City, Shandong Province, with the Chinese Government in October and November. We will continue to raise our concerns where appropriate.

Colombia

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Colombian Government that criminal investigations into human rights violations in Colombia carried out by (a) paramilitaries, (b) members of the armed and security forces and (c) guerrillas are advanced and those responsible brought to justice under the new Justice and Peace Law.

Douglas Alexander: Through our embassy in Bogota, and also through the EU, we regularly impress on the Colombian Government the need to investigate thoroughly all human rights abuses and, where there is sufficient evidence, to prosecute those deemed responsible, regardless of their background, in accordance with the relevant Colombian laws. We reinforce this message in contact with visiting Colombian Ministers to London and the Colombian embassy, most recently in the meeting between my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Triesman of Tottenham) and the Colombian Vice-President on 28 November. We have urged the Government to crack down even harder on impunity and instances of collusion between state forces and officials and illegal armed groups. There has been some improvement in this regard.
	Moreover, through the Ministerial Council Conclusions of 3 October available at http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/86442.pdf, the EU confirmed itswillingness to work closely with the Colombian Government, institutions and civil society of Colombia, as well as with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the G-24, and others who may be involved in monitoring the implementation of the judicial process established under the Justice and Peace Law.

Colombia

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the new Justice and Peace Law in Colombia complies with international law; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK supports the position set out in the EU Ministerial Council Conclusions of 3 October, available at http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/86442.pdf. These conclusions highlight several defects in the Justice and Peace Law and note the concerns expressed by some observers that the law does not take into sufficient account the principles of truth, justice and reparation in accordance with internationally agreed standards. Nevertheless, the Council believes that if the law is effectively and transparently implemented, it will make a positive contribution to the search for peace in Colombia.
	The Council confirmed its willingness to work closely with the Government, institutions and civil society of Colombia, as well as with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the G-24, and others who may be involved in monitoring the implementation of the judicial process established under the law.
	The EU and its member states stand ready to assist the Colombian Government and civil society in providing support for communities affected by the internal conflict, victims groups, local reconciliation activities, and the reinsertion and demobilisation of child soldiers, complementing existing programmes developed by UNICEF and others.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed Ledra Street, Nicosia crossing point, with particular reference to Turkish Cypriot encroachment at the site.

Douglas Alexander: The British Government welcomed the decision to open the crossing point at Ledra Street and we are therefore disappointed that difficulties have arisen. In our view, these provide a worrying example of the lack of trust between the parties in Cyprus. The deeper causes of the Ledra Street controversy can only be addressed through a meaningful process of negotiation aimed at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. In the meantime, we strongly support the conduct of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) over Ledra Street, and its efforts to convert the current controversy into a genuine confidence building measure.

Early Retirement

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's employees have taken early retirement in each year since 1997.

Ian Pearson: The annual number of officers who have taken early retirement for the years 1997 to 2005 are shown in the following table. Final figures for 2004 and 2005 include officers who took early retirement or severance to help the FCO meet staff savings required under the 2004 Spending Review.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 96 
			 1998 44 
			 1999 52 
			 2000 67 
			 2001 44 
			 2002 33 
			 2003 34 
			 2004 59 
			 2005 (23)170 
		
	
	(23) Approximate figure

EU Directives

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 474W, on EU directives, if he will make a statement on the further progress of the EU Directive on Services.

Douglas Alexander: We have made significant progress on the Services Directive in technical discussions and in Council. Further delay to the European Parliament vote, now scheduled for January, means it will not be possible to reach formal agreement on the directive during our presidency. However, maximising progress on this important single market measure remains a priority for this Government.

EU Presidency

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UK's presidency of the European Union; and what representations he has received from foreign Governments about it.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary set out the work programme for the UK presidency in detail in White Paper Cmnd 6611 presented to this House on 30 June. We have made progress in a number of areas, including the historic decision to open accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia on 3 October. Last month, we achieved significant reform of the EU sugar regime and we continue to work on a range of issues from the fight against terrorism to the future financing of the EU. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I are, of course, in regular contact with our EU counterparts on the whole range of European and international issues relevant to us as EU presidency.

Global Opportunities Fund

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the members of the panel of experts referred to in the Global Opportunities Fund report.

Douglas Alexander: As part of the Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance programme of the Global Opportunities Fund, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office convened expert panels to advise on policy and projects relating to all the key themes within the programme (except discriminationfor which there is no expert panel) as follows:
	Freedom of Expression Panel
	Dr. Agnes Callamard
	Nora Cranston
	Karen Merkel
	Ursula Owen
	Anthony Borden
	Helen Duffy
	Jeremy Dear
	Joan Smith
	Lucy Popescu
	Tina Carr
	Gareth Price
	Frances D'Souza
	Sarah Wyatt
	Lindsay Ross
	Umit Ozturk
	Rodney Finder
	Nik Gowing
	Peter Preston
	Jonathan Freedland
	Professor Ivor Gaber
	Colin Bickler
	Abd al-Rahman al-Rashid
	Zahoor Niazi
	Mark Stephens
	Geoffrey Robertson QC
	Mark Thompson
	Jock Gallagher
	Teresa Gautrey
	David Goldberg
	Chris Cobb-Smith
	John Glendinning
	Damian Tambini
	Religious Freedom Forum
	Barney Leith
	Ian Naysmith
	Abi Freeman
	Wilfred Wong
	Michael Bartlett
	Ronald Maddox
	Charles Reed
	Dr. David Royle
	IMAM Dr. Abdul Sajid
	Iqbal Singh
	Assad Rehman
	Tina Lambert
	Sayeed Nadeem Kazmi
	Martyn Eden
	Paul Renshaw
	Andrew Clark
	Dennis Wrigley
	Raphael Walden
	Dr. Zaki Badawi
	Dr. Philip Walters
	Dr. Pasha
	Paul Cook
	Dr. Hany Elbanna
	Amanda Van Eck
	Camilla Carr
	Guy Calvert-Lee
	Dr. Agnes Callamard
	S. M. Abdul Qayum
	Neville Kyrke Smith
	Christine Allen
	Paul Gillies
	Urmi Shah
	Prof J. S. Nielsen
	Torture Panel
	Andrew Coyle
	Carla Ferstman
	Christine Chinkin
	Eric Sottas
	Mark Thomson
	Mike Kellet
	Sir Nigel Rodley
	Malcolm Evans
	Sherman Carroll
	Silvia Casale
	Rule of Law Panel
	Peter Carter
	Jonathan Cooper
	Jeremy Croft
	Mark Ellis
	Paul English
	David Harris
	Mel James
	Roger Smith
	Christian Wisskerchen
	Child Rights Panel
	Abdul Aziz
	Judith Baker
	Bill Bell
	Rachel Bentley
	Jonathan Blagbrough
	Nick Corby
	Jeremy Croft
	Philippa Curtis
	Simon Dowe
	Atallah Fitzgibbon
	Victoria Forbes Adams
	Jonathan Glennie
	Rachel Harvey
	Casey Kelso
	Adowa Kwateng
	George Lane
	Gerison Lansdown
	Keith MacKenzie
	David Maidment
	Amira Malik
	Baroness Sue Miller
	Nasr Muflahi
	Jane Oberman
	Col O'Neil
	Feyi Rodway
	Nikhil Roy
	Michael Shipler
	Fred Shortland
	Carron Somerset
	Catherine Turner
	Helen Veitch
	Marie Wernham
	Jenny Willott
	Carolyn Willow
	Wilfred Wong
	Death Penalty Panel
	Professor Roger Hood
	Professor Peter Hodgkinson
	Baroness Vivien Stern
	Saul Lehrfreund
	Ibrahima Kane
	Philip Sapsford
	Eric Prokosch
	Harold Hillman
	James Oury
	Nicolas Blake
	Edward Fitzgerald
	Kier Starmer
	Professor Nigel Eastman
	Professor Philip Iya

Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance Programme

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to assess the effectiveness of projects supported by the Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance Programme.

Ian Pearson: The effectiveness of projects sponsored by the FCO under the Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance Programme has been measured using the following indicators of success for the various thematic priorities:
	Death Penalty
	A net increase of one a year in the number of countries adopting a moratorium or which abolish the death penalty due, at least in part, to UK intervention.
	Combating Torture
	A measurable increase in the number of countries adopting specific laws criminalising torture;
	An increase in the number of countries developing domestic mechanisms for inspecting detention centres;
	An increase in signatures and ratification of Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its Optional Protocols.
	Freedom of Expression
	The successful resolution of cases of specific concern in countries of particular concern;
	A measurable reduction in the incidence of hate speech.
	Rule of Law
	An increase in number of countries with responsibility for the penitentiary transferred to the Ministry of Justice;
	An increase in number of countries with functioning, independent, professional judiciaries and legal professions.
	Child rights
	An increase in the number of ratifications of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour.
	Discrimination
	An increase in the implementation of international minority rights standards at the national level.

Indonesia

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the beheading of Christian teenagers in Indonesia; if he will make representations to the Indonesian authorities to take action to prevent such religiously-motivated killings; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Immediately after the incident, President Yudhoyono condemned what he described as a sadistic crime, and sent extra police to the area to ensure that violence did not flare up. On 14 November three men were arrested in connection with the crime.
	The British ambassador in Jakarta has discussed the issue with senior Indonesian officials and expressed the UK's shock at the incident.
	In September this year, President Yudhoyono stressed that the state guaranteed every citizen religious freedom and called on the police and members of the public to act to prevent violence against any faith. We co-sponsored with the Indonesian Government in Bali in July an international conference to promote inter-faith understanding and harmony.
	We will continue to co-operate with the Indonesian Government on this important objective.

Iraq

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the investigation into the deaths of the six Royal Military Police who were killed at Al Majarr Al Kabir in Iraq on 24 June 2003.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	The Central Criminal Court of Iraq will conduct the investigation into the deaths of the six Royal Military Police in Iraq on 24 June 2003. The Central Criminal Court of Iraq follows the 'investigative model' whereby an investigative judge directs and oversees the investigation before deciding whether to refer the case to the trial court. The case papers, which take account of the Royal Military Police investigation into the incident, have been lodged with the court, to enable the investigative stage to begin. It will be for the investigative judge to decide whether to refer the case to the trial court once this stage has concluded.

Media Monitoring

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on media monitoring activities in each of the last eight financial years.

Douglas Alexander: Foreign and Commonwealth Office spending on media monitoring in the financial year 200405 was 436,591 and to date in the financial year 200506 is 326,241. Figures for previous years are not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Meetings

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since his appointment the Minister for Europe has met (a) Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and (b) representatives of the UK's Greek Cypriot community.

Douglas Alexander: Since my appointment, I have not met Turkish Cypriot Leader, Mehmet Ali Talat. I have not, so far, met representatives of the UK's Greek Cypriot community.

Rare Birds (Breeding)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure carnivorous rodents and other invasive species are controlled on (a) Gough Island and (b) other breeding areas for rare birds.

Douglas Alexander: The Government are contributing 62,000 this year through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) to a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) project to control rodents on Gough Island. We are working closely with Tristan da Cunha, which includes Gough Island, to extend ratification of the agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels to them.
	The amount of OTEP funding committed for bird conservation and control of invasive species across the Overseas Territories is presently 1,342,824.
	The FCO last year provided 500,000 towards a highly successful project to restore seabird populations on Ascension Island.

Russia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the decision of the Russian Parliament on the regulation of non-governmental organisations and (b) the impact this will have on (i) the ability of international human rights organisations to operate within Russia and (ii) the protection of human rights in that country.

Douglas Alexander: The Bill is described as a measure against extremism, terrorism and crime and would give Russian authorities greater control over non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Our concern is that the draft law as it stands may lead to further restrictions on civil society in Russia and could open the way to excessive official obstruction of the work of NGOs, including international organisations, damaging their ability to work for human rights within Russia.
	At this early stage, it is not possible to judge with any certainty what the ultimate effect of the law will be. The draft legislation will have to pass a further two readings in the Duma before it is presented to the Federation Council from where it will then be passed to President Putin to sign into law. At each stage there is the possibility that the legislation will be amended.
	We have been proactive in our response to reports about the draft law: on 22 November our ambassador in Moscow wrote to Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov expressing concerns about the draft law and requesting more information about its implications. On 2 December our ambassador also delivered an EU demarche to Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko outlining the EU's concerns.
	We welcome reports that on 5 December, President Putin asked the Government to prepare amendments to the draft law as soon as possible to take into account concerns expressed by the European Union and the Russian Public Chamber.

Taxis

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on taxi travel in the 200506 financial year; and what proportion of such travel was undertaken in each nation and region of the UK, including London.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not record expenditure on travel by taxi in the United Kingdom separately from travel on other forms of surface transport. In addition, the FCO does not identify its expenditure on travel in the United Kingdom by nation or region.

Ukraine

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on Ukraine joining the European Union.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Ukraine's European aspirations with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Borys Tarasyuk, when they last met in London on 17 October.

World Trade Organisation (Hong Kong)

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will continue to press for trade justice at the World Trade Organisation meeting in December in Hong Kong.

Douglas Alexander: Yes. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2136W.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academy Schools

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils excluded by other schools were at each academy (a) when it was granted that status and (b) at the latest available date.

Jacqui Smith: This question can be answered only at disproportionate cost.

Consultants

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress her Department has made in monitoring its use of consultants since the National Audit Office and her Department's internal audit report in March 2005.

Bill Rammell: Since the issue of the joint Internal Audit /National Audit Office report dated March 2005, steps to enhance the future monitoring of use of consultants have been taken. Enhancements include better arrangements to collect information on the number of consultants engaged, what they are doing and that a sound and properly approved business case is in place. In addition, accounting arrangements have been enhanced to ensure costs against both programme and running cost expenditure can be identified.

Consultants

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the final report and action plan of the National Audit Office and her Department's internal audit report in March 2005 on engagement and use of consultants in her Department.

Jacqui Smith: Internal audit reports are produced for internal management purposes and are not published.
	As part of this audit, which was carried out jointly with the National Audit Office, a good practice guide on the engagement and use of consultants was prepared. This has been distributed to all divisions in the Department. A copy of this guide has been placed in the House Libraries.

Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the National Audit Office and Department for Education and Skills internal audit report, compiled in March, entitled Engagement and use of consultants in the DfES will be published; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

Jacqui Smith: Internal audit reports are produced for internal management purposes and are not published.
	As part of this audit, which was carried out jointly with the National Audit Office, a good practice guide on the engagement and use of consultants was prepared. This has been distributed to all divisions in the Department. A copy of this guide has been placed in the House Library.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter dated 4 November 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to John Byenx.

Jacqui Smith: I replied to my right hon. Friend's letter on 11 December.

Correspondence

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter of 1 November 2005 from the hon. Member for Northampton, South regarding the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children 'Talk 'til it stops' campaign against child abuse.

Maria Eagle: I responded to the hon. Member's letter on 7 December.

Criminal Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by her Department since May 1997, broken down by Act.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 450W, which gave details of criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by this Department in the 200203 and 200304.sessions.
	Before the 200203 session nine new offences were created in legislation sponsored by this Department.
	Seven of the offences relate to obstruction of an inspection. These are:
	Paragraph 18(4) of Schedule 26 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998; obstructing an inspection of nursery education;
	Section 57(6) of the Learning and Skills Act 2000; obstructing an inspection by the Adult learning Inspectorate;
	Section 63(5) of the Learning and Skills Act 2000; obstructing an Ofsted inspection of further education;
	Section 79(5) of the Learning and Skills Act 2000; obstructing an ESTYN inspection of further education in Wales;
	Section 118(7) of the Learning and Skills Act; obstructing an Ofsted inspection of the Connexions Service;
	Section 122 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000; obstructing an Ofsted inspection of the careers service;
	Section 164(7) of the Education Act 2002; obstructing an inspection of an independent school.
	The other two offences are:
	Section 119(5) of the Learning and Skills Act 2000; unauthorised disclosure of social security information provided in connection with the Connexions service;
	Section 19(1) of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001; failure to comply with a requirement relating to disclosure or inspection of documents in connection with the proceedings of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal or failing to attend the tribunal to give evidence.
	In the 20045 session two new criminal offences have been created in legislation sponsored by this Department, in sections 109 and 111 of the Education Act 2005.
	Both of these offences relate to unauthorised disclosure of information. The Education Act 2005 introduced provisions to allow tax and social security information to be shared for the purpose of deciding on or checking eligibility for education maintenance allowances and free school meals. Provision is then made for unauthorised disclosure of such information to be an offence.

Departmental Estate

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) land and (b) property her Department (i) owns and (ii) rents in each constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The following table lists the properties and land that the Department for Education and Skills (i) owns and (ii) rents in each constituency.
	
		Department for Education and Skills
		
			 Property centre Constituencies Property name Property number Road/street Town Post code Freehold or leasehold 
		
		
			 Operational Properties Cities of London and Westminster borough Bolton ST/Piccadilly 29 Bolton Street Westminster W1J 8JB Leasehold 
			 Operational Properties Cities of London and Westminster borough Caxton House  Tothill street Westminster SW1H 9NF Leasehold 
			 Operational Properties Cities of London and Westminster borough Sanctuary Buildings  Great Smith street Westminster SW1P 3BT Leasehold 
			 Operational Properties Darlington borough Mowden Hall  Staindrop road Darlington DL3 9BG Freehold 
			 Operational Properties Rother Valley Co. Wales Bar  Mansfield road Sheffield S26 5PE Freehold 
			 Operational Properties Sheffield Central borough Moorfoot  The Moor Sheffield S1 4PQ Freehold 
			 Operational Properties Sheffield Central Sheffield Nursery 24 Kenwood Park road Sheffield S7 1NF Freehold 
			 Operational Properties Sheffield Central Units FF1, FF2  FF3 128 Maltravers Road Sheffield S2 5AZ Leasehold 
			 Operational Properties Weaver Vale Castle View House  East Lane Runcorn WA7 2GJ Freehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Bolton North East borough Atlas House Unit 4 St. George's Square Bolton BL1 2HB Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Bolton North East borough Bayley House  St. George's Square Bolton BL1 2HB Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Cities of London and Westminster Grosvenor Crescent 12 Grosvenor Crescent Belgravia SW1X 7EE Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties City of York borough Albion Wharf 25 Skeldergate York YO1 2XL Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Coventry South borough Brandon Court  Leofric Business Park Coventry CV3 2TE Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Great Grimsby borough Acorn Business Park Unit 4 Moss Road Grimsby DN32 0LT Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Luton South borough Wesley House 19 Chapel street Luton LU1 2SU Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Middlesbrough borough Sotherby road off Maxwell road  Sotherby road off Maxwell road Middlesbrough TS3 8BS Freehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties North Southwark and Bermondsey borough Great Dover street 200 Great Dover street Newington SE1 4WU Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties North Southwark and Bermondsey borough Skyline House 200 Union Street Southwark SE1 0LX Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Peterborough borough Blenheim Court Unit 4 Peppercorn Close Peterborough  Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Redditch borough The Oaks Units 8/11 Clews Road Redditch B98 7ST Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Richmond Park borough Manorgate House 2 Manorgate Road Kingston Upon Thames KT2 7AL Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Sittingbourne and Sheppey Co. Medway Annex, Industrial Park Unit 10 Crown Quay lane Sittingbourne ME10 3JH Leasehold 
			 Sublet-Surplus Properties Wolverhampton North East borough Enterprise House  Wobaston Road Wolverhampton WV9 5HA Leasehold

Disability Rights

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action the United Kingdom Government are taking to ensure children's rights are fully and appropriately addressed in the final text of the forthcoming convention on human rights of people with disabilities.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is committed to improving the life chances of everyone, to help them realise their full potential, including disabled children. My officials are working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), who take the lead for the UK Government, to ensure our aims for disabled children are reflected within the convention.

Disabled People (Services)

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to assess the impact of children's services on families with disabled children; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Governments document Every Child Matters Change for Children (December 2004) sets national and local priorities for children's services in England based around an outcomes framework containing five outcomes for all children and young people, including disabled children and young people. These outcomes were given legal force in the Children Act 2004. Within this framework, local authorities evaluate their own services and set their priorities for development. The Department monitors services through annual priorities meetings with local authorities, guidance to them on preparing their plans, and field force support including where necessary formal intervention. Inspectorates assess the contribution of services to improving the outcomes for children through annual performance assessments of children's services by Ofsted and the Commission for Social Care Inspection, and multi-inspectorate joint area reviews of children's services. These mechanisms consider the impact of services on disabled children and their families.

Drinking Water

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have used their developed capital to improve drinking water provision in each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 December 2005
	The Department does not collect this information. Devolved formula capital (DFC) gives maintained schools direct funding to help support the capital needs of their buildings. Schools decide how they use the funding, but are advised to invest it in the priorities agreed locally and identified in local asset management plans. This could include making improvements to the provision of drinking water.
	In the current financial year, 200506, a typical primary school is receiving approximately 25,500 of DFC for its investment priorities, and a typical secondary school is receiving 87,250. By 200708, these figures will rise to 34,250 and 113,000 respectively.

Faith Schools

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether the Department has a target for the creation of faith schools;
	(2)  what assessment the Department has made of the impact of its policies on the number of faith schools.

Jacqui Smith: We welcome faith schools to the maintained sector, where parents and the local community want them, but we do not have a target for the creation of faith schools. Nor have we made a formal assessment of the impact of our policies on the number of faith schools. Decisions about whether new faith schools should open are made locally, following consultation, by the School Organisation Committee or schools adjudicator if the Committee are not unanimous. Decisions are made on the merits of the individual proposals, and in the light of local circumstances.
	The White Paper Higher Standards Better Schools For All aims to make it easier for independent schools, including faith schools, to enter the maintained sector but proposals will still have to follow the local decision making process. We have funded the Association of Muslim Schools UK to assess how many independent Muslim schools wish to join the maintained sector and are able to do so in their existing buildings. The Association is due to report back at the end of March.

Foundation Schools

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many foundation schools were placed in special measures in each year since 1999.

Jacqui Smith: 14 primary and 24 secondary foundation schools went into special measures during the period 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2005. The breakdown by year is shown in the following table together with the total number of primary and secondary schools going into special measures for comparison purposes. Currently some 3 per cent. of primary schools and 25 per cent. of secondary schools have foundation status.
	
		
			  Number of foundation schools in special measures Number of schools in special measures 
			  Primary Secondary Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2004 4 7 169 35 
			 1 September 2000 to 31 August 2001(24) 2 1 98 21 
			 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2002 3 0 96 19 
			 1 September 2002 to 31 August 2003 3 1 98 31 
			 1 September 2003 to 31 August 2004 1 8 130 60 
			 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005 1 7 55 36 
		
	
	(24) One special school was also placed in special measures during 200001.

Holocaust Memorial Day

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans her Department has made in preparation for Holocaust Memorial Day 2006.

Jacqui Smith: The Department for Education and Skills fully supports the aims of Holocaust Memorial Day. From 2001 to 2005, the DfES worked closely with the Home Office to help deliver the day by producing free resources for schools.
	Those resources are still available and suitable for Holocaust Memorial Day 2006. They are promoted by the newly established independent Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, with whom the Department has a good relationship. The Department will soon be releasing a letter of support for Holocaust Memorial Day 2006 activities, and is in ongoing discussions as to other ways the Department can be of assistance in 2006 and in future years.

Learning and Skills

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 14 and 15-year-olds spent up to two days per week in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506 at (i) a further education college and (ii) a work-based learning provider.

Bill Rammell: The vast majority of 14 to16-year-old learners who attend FE colleges or work- based learning providers will be part of either the Increased Flexibility programme (IFP) or Young Apprenticeship programme (YA). Since
	September 2002, the Increased Flexibility programme (IFP) for 14 to16-year-olds has enabled schools, in partnership with FE colleges to offer pupils the opportunity of vocational learning through new GCSEs in vocational subjects and part-time placements in colleges. In 2003/04 we estimate that there were around 90,000 14 to16- year-olds participating in the programme of which around 70 per cent. were being taught in FE colleges for part of the week, and 3 per cent. attended other providers. Figures for 200405 and 200506 are not available, however, it is anticipated that participation in IFP will be similar to 200304.
	The Young Apprenticeship (YA) programme also began in September 2004 and enables 14 to 16-year-olds pupils to pursue industry specific vocational programmes outside of school for up to two days a week, in many cases spending time in FE colleges or with training providers. The first YA cohort in 2004 involved around 1,000 pupils. A second cohort began in September 2005 involving a further 2,000 pupils.
	The data on IFP and YA has been obtained from baseline data collection exercises with participating schools as part of the national evaluations of these programmes.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times she has visited (a) Dacorum and (b) Hertfordshire in her official capacity in the last 12 months; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Maria Eagle: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has visited Hertfordshire once in the last 12 months. The visit was to St. Michael's Catholic Secondary School in Watford to celebrate the school being one of the top 100 most-improved schools nationally.
	She has not yet visited Dacorum.

Missing Children

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local authority children's services have agreed joint protocols with their local police authority for management of cases of children reported missing from home or care.

Maria Eagle: This information is not collected centrally.

Part-time Students

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) financial and (b) other support her Department provides for part-time students in higher education; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: This Government continue to build upon the improved support for part-time students introduced in 2004/05. In the current academic year, a statutory fee grant of up to 885 (for a student studying at 75 per cent. of the equivalent full-time course) and a course grant of up to 250 are available for students domiciled in England and Wales. The grants are means-tested in order to target funding most effectively.
	From 2006/07 fee grants for English students studying in England will be increased by 27 per cent. (compared to 2005/06). That means that a student studying at 75 per cent. intensity could receive up to 1,125 in fee support. In addition, the course grant of up to 250 will continue to be available. The National Assembly for Wales will be responsible for determining student support arrangements for Welsh-domiciled students from the academic year 2006/07.
	Part-time students who need additional financial help with fees or other costs may be provided with discretionary support through their Higher Education Institution (HEI). My Department is allocating 12 million to support part-time students at HEIs in England during 2006/07, an increase from 3 million in 2005/06.
	It is for individual institutions to determine the type and amount of pastoral and other support they provide for their students.

Public Service Agreements

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the quality of data used to measure progress against the need to improve the basic skill level of adults as required by 2004 Public Service Agreement target number 13 is assessed.

Phil Hope: The detail about measurement issues relating to the improvement in adult basic skills levels to achieve the 2004 PSA target 13 is described in the technical note, published by HM Treasury.
	In addition to the information within the technical note, over 80 percent. of the data used to measure the target comes from the ILR. Measures the Learning and Skills Council undertake to assess the quality of this dataset include:
	Good maintenance of the 'Skills for Life' flag on the ILR, which can be used by providers to keep a check on exactly how many 'Skills for Life' learners they currently have.
	The learner information suite (LIS) includes the ILR validation reports which improve data quality by showing errors and warnings in ILR data.
	LIS reports show 'Skills for Life' numbers, and providers can run these reports to see exactly how many 'Skills for Life' learners they currently have, helping to maintain the quality of data.
	Credibility reports applied throughout the data collection process to maintain accurate data.
	Quarterly administrative statistics on qualifications will also be collected directly from awarding bodies. This will be used to verify Learning and Skills Council, prison service and Jobcentre Plus data on achievements, assess the coverage of these sources and allow adjustments for under-coverage.
	
		Spending review 2004DFES PSA targetstechnical notes
		
			 Target Technical note 
			 Tackle the adult skills gap  
		
		
			 13. Increase the number of adults with the skills required for employability and progression to higher levels of training through: improving the basic skill levels of 2.25 million adults between the launch of 'Skills for Life' in 2001 and 2010, with a milestone of 1.5 million in 2007; and reducing by at least 40 percent. the number of adults in the workforce who lack NVQ 2 or equivalent qualifications by 2010. Working towards this, one million adults in the workforce to achieve level 2 between 2003 and 2006. The first part of this target covers those aged 16 and above in England, who have left compulsory education excluding those in school sixth forms. The target refers to individuals significantly improving their basic skills. This could be through public or privately supported provision. Publicly supported provision is largely funded by the Learning and Skills Council, but also includes provision through, Jobcentre Plus, the Prison Service and other Government funded routes. The LSC are also proposing to have this target. Improvement refers to the individual passing an appropriate attainment threshold in: Literacy, Numeracy or ESOL at Entry Level 3, Level 1or Level 2 mapped to the National Standards developed by the Qualification and Curriculum Authority. Key Skills test in Application of Number or Communication at Levels 1 or 2 GCSEs in Maths or English. There will be portfolio-based assessment for some, especially those at the lowest skill levels. The target refers to numbers of adults not qualifications. Progress will be monitored through collation of administrative statistics on recruitment, retention and achievement from the Learning and Skills Council and other relevant sources. This data will be received quarterly. Additional sources include quarterly data of learning within the Prison Service and Jobcentre Plus. To improve timeliness, quarterly administrative statistics on qualifications will also be collected directly from Awarding Bodies. This will also be used to verify LSC, Prison Service and Jobcentre Plus achievements, assess the coverage of these sources and allow adjustments for under-coverage. The time lag between qualifications and data collected by the LSC is about six months and for Awarding Body data is about three months. The target period began on 1 April 2001 and ends on 31 July 2010 at the end of the academic year 2009/10. Final data on achievement will be available in Autumn 2010. A milestone of 1.5 million achievements by 2007 will be reported against in Autumn 2007. The second part of the PSA target covers attainment of all economically active adults in England between the ages of 1864 (males) or 1859 (females). Economically active adults, who also constitute what is meant by the workforce, are either employees, self-employed or unemployed according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition and thus actively seeking work. Progress towards the target will be measured in terms of the increase in the number of economically active adults with a level 2 or higher qualification between 2001 and 2010. The data used to monitor progress towards achieving the target come from the Autumn quarter of the LFS (available in January of the following year). All achievements recorded through the LFS, whether gained through public or private investment, will count towards the target This reflects the nature of the target as a shared ambition, whose achievement is dependent not just on Government interventions and funds but also on the voluntary actions of employers and individuals choosing to spend time and private resources on achieving qualifications. The baseline for 2010 is the Autumn 2001 LFS figure (when 16.0 million economically active adults had at least a level 2 qualification whilst 7.1 million were below level 2). After allowing for the estimated increase in the size of the workforce between 2001 and 2010, achievement of a 40 percent. reduction in the numbers without a level 2 requires an additional 3.6 million first level 2 or higher qualifications over that period. From spring 2007 the LFS is likely to change from being a seasonal quarterly survey to calendar quarters. The 4th quarter (sampling in October, November and December) will provide the closest comparison to the old Autumn quarter (sampling in September, October and November) used to set the target baseline. Therefore the final target outturn will be assessed using the 4th quarter of the 2010 LFS. The baseline for the 2006 milestone target is autumn 2002 to be assessed against the autumn 2006 quarter of the LFS. The Level 2 threshold is reached by obtaining any of the following: Five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C; an intermediate GNVQ; an NVQ level 2 or any other equivalent Level 2 qualification; one A-level (grade A to E); 2 AS levels (grades A to E) or any other full Level 3, Level 4 or Level 5 qualification. Figures related to this target have been previously published in an annual statistical first release (SFR) since 2001, most recently in The Level of Highest Qualification Held By Young People and Adults: England 2003. published on 5 February 2004. The SFR is within the National Statistics remit. 
		
	
	Note:
	The Labour Force Survey was re-grossed in spring 2004 in line with the 2001 Census results. Estimates published before this date will not be consistent with those published subsequently. However, future publications will present a consistent record of progress since the base year.

Qualifications

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of working age people in (a) Tamworth constituency and (b) England hold a qualification at degree level or equivalent or above.

Bill Rammell: From the 2004/05 Annual Local Labour Force Survey, the percentage of working age people in (a) Tamworth constituency and (b) England hold a qualification at degree level or equivalent or above is (a) 16.2 per cent. (10,000 people), and (b) 26.1 per cent. (7,948,000 people). This compares with 23.0 per cent. (734,000 people) in the West Midlands.

School Closures

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many primary schools have closed in England in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many secondary schools in England have closed in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The numbers of local authority maintained primary and secondary schools (including middle schools) that have closed in each of the last five years, are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 2001 209 27 
			 2002 197 26 
			 2003 202 33 
			 2004 224 42 
			 2005(25) 229 25 
		
	
	(25) This is includes all schools up until 2 December 2005
	The table includes all school closures including those schools that have closed as a result of an amalgamation or local reorganisation, those where a new school has opened in their place (eg a school with a religious character, an academy or a fresh start school) and those that have closed and have not been replaced.

School Exclusions

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many exclusions there were of (a) boys and (b) girls from schools in (i) Brent and (ii) London in each of the last five years; and what the (A) age and (B) ethnic origin was of each excluded child.

Jacqui Smith: Accurate local statistics on the characteristics of excluded pupils are not available for recent years due to known quality issues with the data provided by schools to the Department. An annual checking exercise carried out with local authorities confirms overall numbers of permanent exclusions but this does not extend to gender, age and ethnic origin breakdowns. The Department does hold information about the individual characteristics of the majority of excluded pupils who are permanently excluded but does not publish data in a form that identifies individuals. This practice is consistent with the Data Protection Act, the Human Rights Act 1998 and with other relevant provisions.
	The available information for Brent and London is given in the table.
	National estimates of pupil characteristics can be found in the Statistical First Release on 'Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusions from Schools and Exclusion Appeals in England 2003/04', http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000582/index.shtml.
	
		Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools1,2 -- Number and percentage of permanent exclusions:Brent local authority, London Government office region:1999/2000 to 2003/04
		
			  1999/2000 
			  Number Percentage(28) 
			  Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 London 1,076 213 1,289 0.20 0.04 0.12 
			 304 Brent 45 12 57 0.24 0.06 0.15 
		
	
	
		
			  2000/014 2001/024 2002/034 2003/044 
			  Number Percentage(28) Number Percentage(28) Number Percentage(28) Number Percentage(28) 
			  Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total 
		
		
			 London 1,448 0.14 1,456 0.14 1,473 0.14 1,585 0.15 
			 304 Brent 49 0.13 38 0.10 54 0.14 69 0.18 
		
	
	(26) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(27) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	(28) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils, excluding dually registered pupils.
	(29) Figures are as confirmed by local authorities via the data checking exercise.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

School Science

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken to encourage more graduates into teaching (a) physics, (b) chemistry and (c) mathematics at (i) GCSE and (ii) A Level.

Jacqui Smith: In relation to schools, since 2000, we have provided 6,000 bursaries to PGCE trainee teachers in a range of priority subjects. We have also provided them with a 4,000 Golden Hello. From September 2005 the bursary for mathematics and science trainees rose to 7,000, and from September 2006 it will increase to 9,000 for all priority subject trainees. Mathematics and science teachers will also be provided with an increased Golden Hello of 5,000 (2,500 for other priority subjects).
	Routes into teaching are now also much more diverse. Over 15 per cent. of newly qualified teachers are trained through employment based teacher training schemes (EBTTS)mainly the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP), the Registered Teacher Programme (RTP), and the Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP). Each of these schemes carries its own incentives, comprising of a combination of support with the costs of training, salary grants and training grants.
	We also started 'Teach First' in 2003 and this involves training top graduates from some of the UK's top universities to achieve Qualified Teacher Status. Trainees are trained to teach priority subjects in some of London's most challenging schools. The scheme began in London and will be extended to Manchester in 2006 and four other cities from 2007/08.
	The TDA is also funding enhancement courses to increase the number of people able to start initial teacher training in physics, chemistry and mathematics. These courses fill gaps in the subject knowledge of participants who in all other respects meet the requirements for teaching. Following a successful pilot, these courses will be made available nationally from January 2006, and will enable up to 700 additional people per year to qualify to teach in these subjects. Courses are free to participants, and each participant receives a training bursary of 150 per week.
	All secondary teacher training will enable participants to teach to GCSE level, and in many cases to A-Level.
	In the post-compulsory sector, there are two main incentive programmes in place for attracting new teachers. Training Bursaries were introduced in 2000 and offer an additional 6,000 in shortage areas but rising to 7,000 for Maths and Science, and this will rise to 9,000 from September 2006. Golden Hellos were introduced in 2002 and currently offer an additional 4,000 for shortage areas (e.g. ICT, engineering, construction) but rising to 5,000 for Maths and Science.

Schools (Hounslow)

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to ensure that all schools in the London borough of Hounslow are (a) rebuilt and (b) modified to meet (i) Building Bulletin Standards 93 (for insulation) and (ii) 101 (for ventilation).

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 December 2005
	For secondary schools, the Building Schools for the Future Programme in conjunction with the Academies programme aims to renew all secondary schools in England in 10 to 15 waves starting from 200506. Investment available for primary schools will be increased by an additional 150 million in 200809 and 500 million from 200910 onwards. Central Government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under 700 million in 199697 to 5.5 billion this year and will rise further to 6.3 billion by 200708.
	All new buildings and some alterations or refurbishment works are subject to the acoustic performance standards of the Building Regulations. For schools, Building Bulletin 93 is quoted in the regulations as an approved document, whereby compliance with section 1 of the Bulletin would satisfy the acoustic requirements of the regulations. Compliance with the Bulletin would also satisfy the acoustic requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations.
	The Building Regulations similarly contain ventilation performance standards. Consultation on the draft Building Bulletin 101 is nearing completion and it is anticipated that this Bulletin will in spring 2006 similarly become an approved document under the Building Regulations, whereby compliance with the Bulletin would satisfy the ventilation requirements of the regulations.
	The reply given on 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1457W, by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Ms Buck), refers to the White Paper The Future of Air Transport, in which the Government stated that operators of the larger UK airports are expected to offer acoustic insulation or alternative mitigation measures for noise-sensitive buildings such as schools.

Schools (Internet Access)

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England have access to the internet.

Jacqui Smith: Over 99 per cent. of schools in England (primary and secondary) are connected to the internet. Actual school numbers are not collected.
	As at November 2005, 85 per cent. of schools (99 per cent. of secondary schools and 83 per cent. of primary schools) had access to broadband.

Schools Commissioner

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what power the Schools Commissioner will have to compel local authorities to open new schools under the proposals in the Schools White Paper.

Jacqui Smith: The Schools Commissioner will have no power to compel local authorities to open new schools under the proposals in the Schools White Paper. The Schools Commissioners role in relation to local authorities will be to support and challenge them in carrying out their new duties to promote choice, diversity and fair access; and to advise the Secretary of State on the exercise of her powers of intervention if they are failing in those duties.

Schools White Paper

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of the (a) demand and (b) resource implications for pupil referral units of proposals in the Schools White Paper.

Jacqui Smith: We propose in the White Paper that full time education should be provided to pupils who have been excluded from the sixth day of their exclusion. We estimate that this additional provision will cost around 16 million a year from September 2007.
	It is for local authorities and schools to determine the most appropriate provision for pupils who have been excluded, or have different needs, from a range of available local provision including pupil referral units and other types of alternative educational provision. The impact on demand for places in pupil referral units will therefore vary according to local circumstances.

Schools White Paper

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she will take to ensure that independent schools wishing to apply for trust status under the proposals in the Schools White Paper are (a) of an acceptable educational standard and (b) financially secure; and what criteria she will set in each case.

Jacqui Smith: Independent schools wishing to join the maintained sector as trust schools will be required to follow similar procedures, and satisfy similar criteria, that apply currently to independent schools joining the maintained sector as voluntary aided schools. As part of their published proposals they will be required to provide prescribed information which includes a recent Ofsted report on the independent school and a statement of the independent school's accounts. Our guidance to local authorities and the schools adjudicator will require them to take into account standards at the school and financial viability when making their decision.

Teachers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of trained teachers not employed in teaching, broken down by subject specialism.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the subject specialism of out of service teachers is not available.
	Table 46 of the Statistics of Education, School Workforce in England, 2004 edition provides the number of qualified teachers under the age of 60 not in service at March 2003. This publication has been placed in the House Libraries.
	
		Table 46a: Out of service teachers aged under 60, qualified teachers out of service1, 2 at 31 March 2003 aged under 60 who were previously in service, by last known sector, calendar year of last service, sex and age at 31 March 20033, 4England
		
			 Thousand 
			  Calendar year of last service 
			  Nursery and primary Secondary 
			  Before 1988 1988 to 1992 1993 to 1997 1998 to 2003 All years Before 1988 1988 to 1992 1993 to 1997 1998 to 2003 All years 
		
		
			 Men   
			 Under 25 0.1 0.1 
			 25290.5 0.51.4 1.4 
			 3034   0.2 0.7 0.9   0.9 2.2 3.1 
			 3539  0.2 0.4 0.6 1.2 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.7 3.7 
			 4044 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.2 1.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 5.4 
			 4549 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.7 5.1 1.3 0.9 1.8 9.1 
			 5054 1.8 0.4 0.4 0.7 3.3 10.6 1.7 1.1 2.2 15.6 
			 5559 3.2 0.4 0.2 0.3 4.1 12.0 1.3 0.7 1.1 15.0 
			 Total 5.8 1.6 1.7 4.0 13.0 29.6 6.6 5.4 11.9 53.5 
			
			 Women   
			 Under 250.4 0.40.2 0.2 
			 2529   0.1 4.1 4.3   0.1 3.4 3.5 
			 3034  0.1 2.1 5.9 8.1  0.1 1.7 5.2 7.0 
			 3539 0.1 2.1 3.2 4.3 9.7 0.1 1.7 2.4 3.9 8.1 
			 4044 1.2 2.1 1.8 2.6 7.6 2.7 2.4 1.8 3.1 9.9 
			 4549 4.4 1.8 1.7 3.2 11.1 8.1 2.3 1.8 3.6 15.9 
			 5054 12.2 2.3 2.2 4.1 20.7 15.2 2.6 2.1 4.3 24.1 
			 5559 16.4 2.2 1.7 2.6 22.8 18.3 2.3 1.8 2.8 25.2 
			 Total 34.2 10.5 12.8 27.1 84.7 44.4 11.3 11.8 26.5 94.0 
			
			 Men and women   
			 Under 250.5 0.50.3 0.3 
			 2529   0.2 4.6 4.8   0.1 4.7 4.9 
			 3034  0.1 2.4 6.6 9.1  0.1 2.6 7.5 10.1 
			 3539 0.1 2.3 3.6 4.9 10.9 0.2 2.6 3.5 5.6 11.8 
			 4044 1.3 2.4 2.0 3.0 8.7 4.5 3.7 2.6 4.5 15.3 
			 4549 5.0 2.1 2.0 3.8 12.8 13.2 3.6 2.7 5.4 25.0 
			 5054 14.0 2.6 2.6 4.8 24.0 25.8 4.3 3.2 6.4 39.7 
			 5559 19.6 2.5 1.9 2.9 26.9 30.2 3.6 2.5 3.9 40.3 
			 Total 40.0 12.1 14.5 31.1 97.7 73.9 17.9 17.3 38.4 147.4 
		
	
	
		Thousand
		
			  Calendar year of last service 
			  Special and PRU Other(34) 
			  Before 1988 1988 to 1992 1993 to 1997 1998 to 2003 All years Before 1988 1988 to 1992 1993 to 1997 1998 to 2003 All years 
		
		
			 Men   
			 Under 25   
			 2529 0.2 0.2 
			 30340.1 0.1   0.1 0.4 0.5 
			 35390.1 0.1  0.1 0.2 0.5 0.8 
			 4044   0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 
			 4549 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.7 2.3 
			 5054 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.6 1.6 0.7 0.7 1.1 4.0 
			 5559 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 2.2 0.6 0.4 0.7 3.8 
			 Total 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.9 4.7 2.0 2.1 4.1 12.9 
			
			 Women   
			 Under 25   
			 25290.1 0.10.5 0.6 
			 30340.2 0.3   0.3 1.2 1.5 
			 3539  0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4  0.2 0.5 1.0 1.7 
			 4044 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.9 2.3 
			 4549 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.1 1.4 0.5 0.6 1.2 3.7 
			 5054 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.4 2.1 0.6 0.8 1.9 5.4 
			 5559 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2 1.3 2.5 0.7 0.7 1.5 5.4 
			 Total 2.1 0.7 0.8 1.5 5.2 6.4 2.6 3.4 8.2 20.6 
			
			 Men and women   
			 Under 25   
			 25290.1 0.10.8 0.8 
			 3034   0.1 0.3 0.3   0.4 1.7 2.1 
			 3539  0.1 0.2 0.3 0.6  0.3 0.7 1.5 2.5 
			 4044 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.8 1.4 3.6 
			 4549 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.5 2.1 1.0 1.0 2.0 6.0 
			 5054 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 2.0 3.6 1.3 1.5 2.9 9.4 
			 5559 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.8 4.7 1.3 1.1 2.1 9.1 
			 Total 2.8 1.0 1.1 2.1 7.0 11.1 4.6 5.5 12.3 33.5 
		
	
	
		Thousand
		
			  Calendar year of last service 
			  Total 
			  Before 1988 1988 to 1992 1993 to 1997 1998 to 2003 All years 
		
		
			 Men  
			 Under 250.1 0.1 
			 2529   0.1 2.1 2.2 
			 3034   1.2 3.4 4.7 
			 3539 0.1 1.2 1.6 2.9 5.8 
			 4044 2.2 1.9 1.4 2.6 8.0 
			 4549 6.6 2.1 1.7 3.2 13.6 
			 5054 14.2 2.8 2.3 4.1 23.4 
			 5559 17.6 2.4 1.3 2.1 23.4 
			 Total 40.7 10.5 9.6 20.5 81.2 
			   
			 Women  
			 Under 250.7 0.7 
			 2529   0.2 8.1 8.4 
			 3034  0.2 4.2 12.6 16.9 
			 3539 0.2 4.1 6.3 9.4 20.0 
			 4044 4.4 5.1 4.2 6.7 20.5 
			 4549 14.3 4.9 4.2 8.4 31.7 
			 5054 30.2 5.6 5.3 10.5 51.6 
			 5559 38.0 5.3 4.3 7.1 54.7 
			 Total 87.1 25.1 28.8 63.4 204.4 
			   
			 Men and women  
			 Under 250.8 0.8 
			 2529   0.3 10.2 10.5 
			 3034  0.2 5.4 16.0 21.6 
			 3539 0.3 5.3 8.0 12.2 25.8 
			 4044 6.7 7.0 5.6 9.3 28.5 
			 4549 20.8 7.0 5.9 11.6 45.3 
			 5054 44.3 8.5 7.6 14.6 75.0 
			 5559 55.6 7.7 5.6 9.2 78.1 
			 Total 127.8 35.6 38.4 83.9 285.7 
		
	
	(30) Excluding those who are receiving a pension from the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS).
	(31) Some in service teachers may be shown as not in service because their service details are not recorded. These may include qualified teachers in the 'old' university sector, teachers in the independent sector who are not members of the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS), part-time teachers outside the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector who are not members of the TPS.
	(32) Provisional data.
	(33) Figures below 50 will be rounded to zero.
	(34) Other includes the independent sector, further and higher education.
	Source:
	Database of Teacher Records.
	
		Table 46b: Out of service teachers aged under 60, qualified teachers who have never been in servicel up to 31 March 2003 aged under 60, by calendar year qualified, sex and age at 31 March 20032, 3England
		
			 Thousand 
			  Calendar year qualified 
			  Before 1988 1988 to 1992 1993 to 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 All years 
		
		
			 Men  
			 Under 25  0.0 0.1 0.4 0.6 
			 2529   0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 2.3 
			 3034  0.3 2.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 3.2 
			 3539 0.4 1.2 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 3.1 
			 4044 2.2 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 3.7 
			 4549 5.5 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0   6.4 
			 5054 4.7 0.2 0.3 0.0 5.3 
			 5559 2.7 0.2 0.2  3.1 
			 Total 15.6 2.8 4.7 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.8 1.3 27.7 
			   
			 Women  
			 Under 25  0.2 0.6 1.5 2.3 
			 2529   1.4 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.8 1.0 6.0 
			 3034  0.7 4.0 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.5 6.7 
			 3539 0.8 2.2 1.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 5.4 
			 4044 4.6 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 7.1 
			 4549 13.3 0.5 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 15.0 
			 5054 6.3 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0   7.3 
			 5559 3.6 0.3 0.2  4.1 
			 Total 28.7 4.9 9.0 2.1 1.8 1.6 2.1 3.8 53.9 
			   
			 Men and women  
			 Under 25  0.2 0.7 1.9 2.9 
			 2529   1.9 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.4 8.3 
			 3034  1.0 6.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.7 9.9 
			 3539 1.2 3.4 2.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.5 8.4 
			 4044 6.8 1.5 1.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 10.8 
			 4549 18.9 0.8 1.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 21.4 
			 5054 11.0 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 12.7 
			 5559 6.3 0.4 0.4  7.3 
			 Total 44.3 7.7 13.7 3.1 2.6 2.3 3.0 5.1 81.6 
		
	
	(35) Some in service teachers may be shown as not in service because their service details are not recorded. These may include qualified teachers in the 'old' university sector, teachers in the independent sector who are not members of the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS), part-time teachers outside the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector who are not members of the TPS.
	(36) Data are provisional.
	(37) Figures below 50 will be rounded to zero.
	Source:
	Database of Teacher Records.

Teachers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whom she has asked to carry out the review of the framework for teaching mathematics; what the terms of reference are; and which experts have been invited to submit evidence;
	(2)  how many responses she has received to her Department's consultation on reviewing the framework for teaching mathematics.

Jacqui Smith: The Primary National Strategy has been asked to renew and update its framework for the teaching of mathematics. The renewed framework will reflect the significant improvements in mathematics teaching we have seen since the framework was introduced in 1999 and will draw on the latest evidence to ensure that it supports schools and settings to raise attainment still further by delivering education tailored to the needs of every child.
	The strategy's terms of reference are to ensure that the renewed framework for teaching mathematics provides schools and settings with:
	(a) a clearer set of age-related outcomes relating to learning progression in mathematics, which will inform the structure of the curriculum;
	(b) better sign-posting to the range of teaching materials and professional development opportunities currently on offer to support teaching practice;
	(c) an increased sense of drive and momentum on mathematics, making adjustments to learning objectives involving some progressive scaling up of expectations for each year group.
	A period of informal consultation is currently under way. Discussions are being held with consultancy groups drawn from national samples of head teachers, teachers, local authority representatives, subject and professional organisations and higher education institutions. A consultation forum has been set up on the DfES website. To date, well over 100 contributors have taken part in consultancy group discussions and the website consultation forum has had 40 contributions posted on it, many of which are from local authorities feeding back comments from their meetings with local teachers.
	The strategy will continue to hold discussions with experts across the mathematics community to elicit their views on proposed content and structure of the revised framework and will post documentation on the website for wider comment. After Easter 2006, a draft revised framework will be published for more formal consultation.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Alcohol-related Illness/Deaths

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths there were in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Upper Bann in each of the last five years in which alcohol was the primary cause.

Angela Smith: The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland and Upper Bann parliamentary constituency in each year between 2000 and 2004 where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol 1
	
		Number of alcohol-related deaths registered in Northern Ireland and Upper Bann parliamentary constituency, 200004
		
			  Alcohol-related deaths(38) 
			  Northern Ireland Upper Bann 
		
		
			 2000 193 7 
			 2001 210 11 
			 2002 246 11 
			 2003 211 11 
			 2004 260 17 
		
	
	(38) For the years 200104 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used to define alcohol-related deaths are:
	F10Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol;
	142.6Alcoholic cardiomyopathy;
	K70Alcoholic liver disease;
	K73Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified;
	K74Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver; and
	X45Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol.
	For the year 2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used to define alcohol-related deaths are:
	291Alcoholic psychoses;
	303Alcohol dependence syndrome;
	305.0Non-dependent abuse of alcohol;
	425.5Alcoholic cardiomyopathy;
	571Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis; and
	E860Accidental poisoning by alcohol.

Alcohol-related Illness/Deaths

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the annual costs resulting from alcohol-related illness in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: In the Report, Reducing Alcohol Related Harm in Northern Ireland, it was estimated that, in 199798, the last year for which costs are available, the social costs to the HPSS amounted to 26.8 million per year. This included the costs of occupied psychiatric and acute beds, general practice costs and responses to alcohol-related harm.

Benefits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Upper Bann have been in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) income support and (c) jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Month of May Upper Bann disability living allowance recipients 
		
		
			 2001 9,372 
			 2002 9,735 
			 2003 10,063 
			 2004 10,745 
			 2005 11,230 
		
	
	
		
			  Upper Bann income support recipients 
		
		
			 February 2001(39) 9,505 
			 May 2002 9,762 
			 May 2003 9,968 
			 May 2004 5,522 
			 May 2005 5,631 
		
	
	(39) May 2001 data is unavailable.
	
		
			  Upper Bann jobseekers allowance recipients 
		
		
			 February 2001(40) 1,649 
			 May 2002 1,587 
			 May 2003 1,480 
			 May 2004 1,324 
			 May 2005 1,226 
		
	
	(40) May 2001 data is unavailable.

Benefits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of fraud have been detected in Northern Ireland in relation to (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  200102(41) 200203(41) 200304 200405 2005-YTD(42) 
		
		
			 Disability living allowance 3 14 34 48 40 
			 Incapacity benefit 76 80 110 133 117 
			 Jobseekers allowance 264 279 520 470 349 
		
	
	(41) The figures for 200102 and 200203 are incomplete as a number of cases have been deleted from the database in order to comply with the requirements Data Protection Act. It is not possible to quantify these cases.
	(42) Ending 30 November 2005

Benefits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in relation to benefit fraud in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The total number of people that has been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in relation to benefit fraud in Northern Ireland from year 200102 to date are as follows:
	
		
			  Prosecuted Convicted 
		
		
			 200102 471 467 
			 200203 335 322 
			 200304 243 238 
			 200405 236 234 
			 2005-YTD (Ending 30 November) 138 132

Bortezomib

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients received bortezomib within each of the health board areas in the Province in the last year for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what control programme operates in Northern Ireland in relation to bovine tuberculosis.

Angela Smith: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), has in place a bovine tuberculosis (TB) control programme, which aims to bring about a substantial reduction in TB disease levels in Northern Ireland. The incidence of TB has been decreasing in Northern Ireland since early to mid-2003. This trend has continued during the first ten months of 2005.
	The control measures are based on a programme of testing, the slaughter of infected animals, the restriction of movements of animals to and from infected herds and surrounding herds, and the tracing of contact animals.
	Following the TB policy review undertaken in 2002, DARD has introduced a number of new measures to strengthen the control of TB in Northern Ireland. The most important of these measures are tighter restrictions on overdue tests and changes to the valuation system, including the establishment of an independent appeal panel to resolve valuation disputes.
	Work is also underway on the feasibility of further measures that can be introduced to control TB. This includes a pilot on the use of the gamma interferon blood test, in combination with skin testing, to assist in the detection of TB in cattle in certain circumstances, and a review of the existing arrangements for TB testing arrangements.
	In relation to badgers and TB, a Badger Stakeholder Group was established in May 2004 to review all the relevant information available on badgers and to consider the potential need for a badger management strategy to help reduce TB levels in Northern Ireland. At present, work is being finalised on cost/benefit information relevant to Northern Ireland to assist the Group, and the results of that work will be presented to the Group at a further meeting. The Group is expected to report in early 2006. No decision will be taken on badgers in Northern Ireland until the work of the Badger Stakeholder Group has been completed.

Child Abuse

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will (a) initiate an inquiry into clerical child sexual abuse in every school in the maintained sector in Northern Ireland and (b) initiate a joint inquiry with authorities in the Republic of Ireland into clerical child sexual abuse in every Roman Catholic diocese that straddles the border; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) have held separate meetings with the PSNI, the Department of Health and Children in the Republic of Ireland, the National Children's Office in the Republic of Ireland and senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church to discuss implications of the Ferns Report and other disclosures relating to allegations of clerical abuse against children. PSNI has also met separately with senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church. A further meeting involving DHSSPS, PSNI and senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church is scheduled before Christmas following which decisions will be taken by DHSSPS and the PSNI on the appropriate course of action to be followed.

Children Act

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to question 34657, what work his Department is undertaking to exercise the power under section 12 of the Children Act 2004.

Shaun Woodward: The Children Act 2004 does not apply to Northern Ireland. However, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety intend to consult on a range of childcare issues early in 2006, which may include the sharing of information.

Civil Service

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the length of time it takes a Northern Ireland civil servant in each grade to progress to the maximum point of the pay scale.

Angela Smith: Depending on the payscale in question, it takes a civil servant in the Northern Ireland civil service between seven and 12 years to progress from the minimum to the maximum point of the scale.
	It is the NICS' longer-term strategy to reduce the length of time it takes to progress to the maximum of a pay scale.

Commissioner for Victims

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he sought advice from the Commissioner for Public Appointments before appointing the Commissioner for Victims; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Commissioner for Public Appointments was not consulted on the appointment of the Interim Commissioner for Victims and Survivors. The Interim Commissioner for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland was appointed on a non-statutory basis to take forward some essential preparatory work in advance of the post being established under law. That work included, for example, reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of current funding arrangements and considering the practical issues of establishing a victims and survivors forum. The Interim Commissioner has been asked to produce a report for Ministers by the end of 2006.
	I can confirm, however, that the Government will be bringing forward legislation to establish the post of Commissioner for Victims and Survivors. That appointment will be subject to the full public appointments process.

Community Care Grants

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Upper Bann have submitted claims for community care grants in each of the last five years; and how many were awarded.

David Hanson: The information is not available in the form requested.

Cross-border Bodies

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which cross-border bodies have put the minutes of their board meetings on their websites; on what date each did so; and what steps are being taken to require those cross-border bodies which did not so publish their minutes to do so.

Peter Hain: The content of the websites of cross-border bodies is a matter for each body. The Loughs Agency, an agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission currently publishes minutes of its board meetings on its website (www.loughs-agency.org).
	The dates of the relevant Loughs Agency board meetings and the dates they were published are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 Date of board meeting Date published on website 
		
		
			 23rd meeting19 May 2004 26 May 2004 
			 24th meeting15 September 2004 21 September 2004 
			 25th meeting17 November 2004 22 November 2004 
			 26th meeting15 December 2004 20 December 2004 
			 27th meeting23 February 2005 28 February 2005 
			 28th meeting20 April 2005 25 April 2005 
			 29th meeting24 June 2005 28 June 2005 
		
	
	The Loughs Agency has also advised that minutes relating to meetings prior to the 19 May 2004 have been removed from the website for technical reasons. It is the agency's plan to reinstate them when their new website comes online early 2006. The minutes from board meetings since 24 June will be put on the website as soon as possible.

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dental nurses are employed in the Province specifically to treat (a) children and (b) adults with complex needs.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Property

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by his Department's Ministers on (a) new furnishings, (b) art and (c) new vehicles in each Northern Ireland department headquarters in each year since the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Shaun Woodward: The information is as follows:
	(a) And (b) are Nil for DHSSPS.
	(c) In 2004 the Department purchased four emergency response vehicles for HPSS preparedness. Two Ford Ranger super cab 4x4s and two Iveco Eurocargo box vans at a total cost of 83,252.

Eastern Health and Social Services Board

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will address the financial situation of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board arising from the regional capitation formula to enable reduction of waiting lists for elective treatment.

Shaun Woodward: The Eastern Health and Social Services Board share of resources through the regional capitation formula is reducing in line with its share of the Northern Ireland population. A detailed research programme is currently being taken forward to further consider the capitation formula. This work is still progressing and is expected to inform future allocation decisions.
	In relation to waiting lists, a comprehensive programme of elective care reform is being progressed across Northern Ireland. By March 2006, no patient should be waiting longer than 12 months for inpatient or day case treatment, with shorter waiting times for major joints (nine months), cataracts (six months) and cardiac surgery (six months).

ECT Machines

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has received reports that staff at one of the Province's psychiatric hospitals were unable to provide the serial numbers of their ECT machines, and did not have calibration cards or means to assess compliance with manufacturers' pre-calibration settings for the machine.

Shaun Woodward: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has received communication containing allegations about the use of ECT machines. These refer to experiences in the early 1990s. Guidance on good practice Medical Device and Equipment Management for Hospital and Community-based Organisation was issued on July 1999. This covered the issue of keeping a record of serial numbers and employing a routine maintenance policy to keep equipment working reliably and safely.

Emergency Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure emergency services can respond promptly to terrorist or serious incidents in the south western part of Northern Ireland after the withdrawal of acute medical services from Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: All of the Health and Personal Social Services, including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) have a generic Major Incident Plan which is designed to cover large scale incidents and terrorist events happening anywhere in Northern Ireland.
	In the event of terrorist or serious incident occurring in the south western part of Northern Ireland, the Western Health and Social Services Board and the NIAS would each instigate their respective major incident plans. These plans anticipate the use of multiple hospitals for dealing with major emergencies. The NIAS plan allows for the Ambulance Commander to designate receiving hospitals, part of this is to ensure that the workload is evenly dispersed to the appropriate hospitals in relation to patients clinical requirements. The plan also contains the deployment of NIAS Emergency Equipment Vehicles (these are placed at strategic locations in Northern Ireland) which contain additional equipment for dealing with mass casualties.
	The Southern and Western Health and Social Services Boards are working with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to ensure that ambulance services in the south western part of Northern Ireland are responsive to the needs of the population. The current planning for Sperrin Lakeland includes the creation of appropriate networks of Ambulance, A  E service, Critical care and other acute services across the Western Health and Social Services Board area and beyond to deal with casualties resulting from serious incidents.
	In addition to Major Incident Plans, there are special provisions for Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN) incidents. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service is being equipped and trained to respond to such incidents as part of its New Dimensions role. The NIAS also have special provisions for dealing with CBRN incidents throughout Northern Ireland.

Engagements

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many councils in Northern Ireland he has met since his appointment.

Peter Hain: Between my appointment as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in May and 30 November 2005 I met with Lisburn city council, Ballymena borough council and North Down borough council.
	My ministerial colleagues have also met during this period with Carrickfergus borough council, Down district council, Ards borough council, Omagh district council and Belfast city council.

EU Initiatives

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the four main European Union initiatives associated with Northern Ireland are going to meet their N+2 targets for 2005.

Angela Smith: Both the INTERREG IIIA Ireland/Northern Ireland cross border programme and the LEADER+programme have already incurred sufficient expenditure to meet their 2005 N+2 targets. Forecast expenditure for the EQUAL and URBAN II programmes indicate that these too should be able to meet their 2005 N+2 targets, but with very narrow margins.

General Practitioners

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many general practitioners in Northern Ireland are aged over 65 years.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 225W.

Housing Executive Homes

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new Housing Executive homes were built in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Upper Bann in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: Housing associations assumed responsibility for the delivery of social housing from the Housing Executive in 1998. This answer therefore includes both housing association and Housing Executive completions.
	The figures include new build and houses purchased from the open market either in good condition or for rehabilitation, prior to letting. All are additions to social housing stock.
	The number of completions in Northern Ireland is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 199596 2,805 
			 199697 2,037 
			 199798 2,117 
			 199899 1,739 
			 19992000 1,557 
			 200001 1,342 
			 200102 1,763 
			 200203 1,295 
			 200304 854 
			 200405 1,073 
		
	
	The Housing Executive does not maintain its records by constituency and a full response by constituency is therefore not possible. However, a composite response can be given in respect of the Banbridge and Craigavon council areas, which straddle the Upper Bann constituency, but only for the last seven years. Further information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of completions in respect of the two council areas is as follows:
	
		
			  Banbridge Craigavon 
		
		
			 199899 37 71 
			 19992000 0 53 
			 200001 10 58 
			 200102 32 13 
			 200203 1 0 
			 200304 0 18 
			 200405 0 7

Housing Executive Homes

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many Housing Executive homes have been condemned as unsafe in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many Housing Executive homes in Upper Bann have been condemned as unsafe in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The information is not readily available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Executive Homes

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive homes in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Upper Bann are vacant.

David Hanson: There are a total of 4,288 void Housing Executive properties in Northern Ireland and 338 in the Upper Ban constituency.

Housing Executive Homes

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive dwellings are scheduled to be built in each council area in Northern Ireland over the next 10 years.

David Hanson: Housing Associations assumed responsibility for the delivery of social housing from the Housing Executive in 1998. This answer therefore refers to Housing Association planned starts. The social housing development programme operates on a five-year time frame and is rolled forward each year to take account of changing needs and priorities. A 10-year projection is therefore not available.
	The current target is to provide 1,500 new social houses per annum over the next five years. The following table shows the gross programme proposed in each year.
	
		Planned social housing starts
		
			 District council 200506 200607 200708 200809 200910 
		
		
			 Antrim 57 17 8 8 51 
			 Ards 26 58 0 53 165 
			 Armagh 4 0 0 17 54 
			 Ballymena 11 16 12 34 9 
			 Ballymoney 0 3 0 4 21 
			 Banbridge 44 0 5 0 0 
			 Belfast 1,194 850 1,143 542 440 
			 Carrick 30 0 0 21 11 
			 Castlereagh 68 20 20 45 108 
			 Coleraine 31 0 20 4 25 
			 Cookstown 5 0 0 28 0 
			 Craigavon 12 18 0 30 16 
			 Derry 113 93 192 253 112 
			 Down 30 39 0 62 97 
			 Dungannon 0 19 12 80 22 
			 Fermanagh 31 11 0 58 62 
			 Larne 0 5 0 14 12 
			 Limavady 6 6 10 0 6 
			 Lisburn 142 360 200 143 370 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 14 14 10 
			 Moyle 0 0 10 6 24 
			 Newry and Mourne 27 63 24 89 187 
			 Newtownabbey 2 57 31 137 43 
			 North Down 40 133 11 66 145 
			 Omagh 7 8 0 17 30 
			 Strabane 0 4 21 38 20 
			 Totals 1,880 1,780 1,733 1,763 2,040

Infection Control

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the level of use of hand gels by (a) members of hospital staff and (b) visitors to hospitals in Northern Ireland for the purposes of infection control.

Shaun Woodward: The Department has not made any assessment on the use of hand gels by members of hospital staff or visitors to hospitals for the purpose of infection control.

Interpreting Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the response of 13 October 2005, Official Report, column 598W, on interpreting services, what the plans are for the provision and monitoring of interpreting services within the local health service.

Shaun Woodward: The Department plans to publish a consultation document during the first quarter of 2006, to invite views on possible arrangements for the future of interpreting services for HPSS service users and those who deliver the services. In the interim the Department has written to the Eastern Health and Social Services Board offering continuation funding for the existing Regional Interpreting Service.

Irish Language Policy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of implementing an Irish language policy has been to each Government Department in the Province since the policy was introduced.

David Hanson: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. MacEntee

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1630W, if he has provided Mr. MacEntee with all the information he has requested.

Peter Hain: Mr. MacEntee made a general request for information held by the British Government which is relevant to his terms of reference. The British Government have given Mr. MacEntee all the information that they have identified as being relevant to his terms of reference. We have also provided him with further additional information which he has requested and are currently engaged in correspondence with him with a view to providing further assistance to his Commission of Investigation.

Mr. MacEntee

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1630W, on the Barron Inquiry, whether the further information provided to Mr. MacEntee included information on (a) a white van with a UK registration plate and (b) the location of British Services personnel at the time of the bombings.

Peter Hain: The British Government have given Mr. MacEntee all the information that they have identified as being relevant to his terms of reference. His terms of reference include:
	Why the Garda- did not follow-up on the following leads:
	i. information that a white van, with an English registration plate, was parked outside the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in Portland Row and was later seen parked in the deep sea area of the B  I ferry port in Dublin, and the subsequent contact made with a British Army officer on a ferry boat leaving that port;
	ii. information relating to a man who stayed in the Four Courts Hotel between 15 and 17 May, 1974 and his contacts with the UVF;
	iii. information concerning a British Army corporal allegedly sighted in Dublin at the time of the bombings.
	Any information relating to these points which was uncovered by the Government's trawl of their files would have been passed to Mr. MacEntee.

Mr. MacEntee

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1630W, on the Barron inquiry, to what the further information provided to Mr. MacEntee relates.

Peter Hain: The Commission of Investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings of 1974 under Patrick MacEntee is required, in general, to be carried out in private. The material which the British Government provided to Mr. MacEntee was given to him in confidence.

Myeloma

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent estimate is of the number of myeloma sufferers in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: Estimates of prevalence are not routinely produced by the NICR, due to the uncertainty surrounding these estimates. However the results of a recent population-based survey (Morris et al, 2004), published in the British Journal of Haematology, indicate that approximately 75 cases of myeloma are diagnosed in Northern Ireland each year.
	This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and is the most up to date currently available.

Orange Halls (Attacks)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks on Orange halls have been reported to the police in Northern Ireland in each of the last 30 years for which there are records.

Shaun Woodward: I have been advised by the PSNI that records date back to 1990 and that statistics are collated from Orange halls and Apprentice Boys halls together. The following table from PSNI records details the number of attacks on Orange halls/Apprentice Boys halls over the last 15 years to 8 December 2005.
	
		Number of attacks on Orange halls/Apprentice Boys halls
		
			  
		
		
			 1990 6 
			 1991 11 
			 1992 17 
			 1993 12 
			 1994 8 
			 1995 42 
			 1996 38 
			 1997 41 
			 1998 29 
			 1999 26 
			 2000 26 
			 2001 16 
			 2002 4 
			 2003 19 
			 2004 6 
			 2005 (to 8 December)(43) 30 
		
	
	(43) 2005 statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.
	Note:
	Includes incidents such as stones thrown, petrol bombs thrown, shots fired, malicious fires, etc.

Overseas Nurses

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nurses from overseas have been employed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		Number of nurses from overseas employed within the NI HPSS as at 30 September over the last 10 years
		
			  Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 1996 2 1.49 
			 1997 2 1.49 
			 1998 1 1.00 
			 1999 1 1.00 
			 2000 20 20.00 
			 2001 104 104.00 
			 2002 297 297.00 
			 2003 742 740.55 
			 2004 844 842.15 
			 2005 863 862.81 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures detailed in this table refer specifically to nurses who have been recruited from overseas by individual trusts.
	2. Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust supplied figures as at 31 December for the years 2003 and 2004. Figures for Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust for 2003 and 2004 rely on information submitted by staff.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts

Police

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers have taken early retirement in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: District command units were only formed in 2001. During the period 1 April 2001 until 1 November 2005 1,632 officers have taken early retirement from district command units within the police service.
	A breakdown of the figures is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   District command unit Early retirement through voluntary severance  Medical retirement 
		
		
			 Antrim DCU 33 14 
			 Ards DCU 30 22 
			 Armagh DCU 23 23 
			 Banbridge DCU 28 12 
			 Belfast East DCU 68 41 
			 Belfast North DCU 62 66 
			 Belfast South DCU 86 35 
			 Belfast West DCU 38 70 
			 Ballymena DCU 19 13 
			 Ballymoney DCU 16 3 
			 Carrickfergus DCU 20 15 
			 Coleraine DCU 38 21 
			 Cookstown DCU 16 20 
			 Craigavon DCU 45 28 
			 Castlereagh DCU 44 23 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone DCU 15 35 
			 Downpatrick DCU 42 26 
			 Fermanagh DCU 39 37 
			 Foyle DCU 16 23 
			 Larne DCU 21 14 
			 Limavady DCU 17 9 
			 Lisburn DCU 36 35 
			 Magherafelt DCU 21 18 
			 Moyle DCU 5 1 
			 Newtownabbey DCU 28 17 
			 Newry and Mourne DCU 30 31 
			 North Down DCU 45 35 
			 Omagh DCU 19 26 
			 Strabane DCU 10 9 
			 Grand total 910 722 
		
	
	In respect of the period 1 April 199531 March 2001 1,510 officers retired from the service early on medical grounds or voluntary severance.

Police

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers have been (a) prosecuted and (b) disciplined as a result of investigation by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Ombudsman advises that the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed charges in 30 cases of police officers as a result of investigation by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. The chief constable advises that 139 police officers have been disciplined as a result of investigation by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

Police

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers are on secondment to other police services.

Shaun Woodward: There are currently 17 members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on secondment to other police services.

Poverty Statistics

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 235W, on poverty statistics, to what he ascribes the increase in pensioner poverty in Northern Ireland; what steps he has taken to address increases in pensioner poverty in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The change in the number of pensioners, recorded by the Family Resources Survey as in poverty, should be treated with some caution, because some variation is to be expected from one year to the next in the results of sample surveys. Results from a longer period of time would be required to confirm the trend. It would not be prudent to speculate about possible explanations.
	Since 1997 we have taken many steps to tackle pensioner poverty, including the introduction of pension credit, winter fuel payments and free television licences. Also, since 2000 the basic state pension has risen substantially more than inflation. As a result of these measures during 200506 pensioner households will be on average 29 a week better off while the poorest third of pensioner households will be on average 39 a week better off compared with 1997.
	Pension credit has been key to this increase in income, currently guaranteeing a minimum income of 109.45 a week for single pensioners and 167.05 for couples. The Government are committed to increasing the guarantee credit element of pension credit by earnings next year and in the next spending round 2006 to 2008.

Skin Cancer

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of skin cancer were diagnosed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The following tables detail the number of incidences of Malignant Melanoma of the skin (ICD-10 C43) and Non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD-10 C44) in Northern Ireland between 1994 and 2003.
	
		Malignant Melanoma of the skin (ICD-10 C43)
		
			 Year of diagnosis Incident cases 
		
		
			 1994 178 
			 1995 169 
			 1996 175 
			 1997 159 
			 1998 177 
			 1999 179 
			 2000 187 
			 2001 215 
			 2002 245 
			 2003 208 
		
	
	
		Non-Melanoma skin cancer (ICD-10 C44)
		
			 Year of diagnosis Incident cases 
		
		
			 1994 2,093 
			 1995 2,054 
			 1996 2,234 
			 1997 2,196 
			 1998 2,174 
			 1999 2,261 
			 2000 2,213 
			 2001 2,157 
			 2002 2,377 
			 2003 2,414 
		
	
	This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and is the most up to date currently available.

Smoking

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to question 34727, on smoking in enclosed public places, if he will set out the scientific evidence he considered in reaching his decision.

Shaun Woodward: The World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified second hand smoke as a Group 1 human carcinogen. Other Group 1 carcinogens include asbestos, arsenic, benzene and radon gas.
	The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the US and the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have concluded that even proposed new technologies, such as displacement ventilation systems, which may reduce second hand smoke exposure levels by 90 percent., still leave exposure levels which are 1,500 to 2,500 times the acceptable risk level for hazardous air pollutants. The conclusion of the OSHA/ACGIH ventilation panel is that dilution ventilation is not a viable control option for Environmental Tobacco Smoke.
	The US Surgeon General, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organisation, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the American Medical Association and the American Lung Association have all concluded that there is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke.
	The Government's Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) has concluded that exposure to second hand smoke is a cause of lung cancer and, in those with long-term exposure, the increased risk is estimated to be in the order of 24 percent. In 2004, SCOTH indicated that the weight of evidence published on the causal effect of exposure to second hand smoke on the risk of ischaemic heart disease is now stronger than at the time of SCOTH'S 1998 report and that the increased risk is estimated to be in the order of 25 percent. SCOTH also concluded that the evidence published since 1998 continues to point to a strong link between exposure to second hand smoke and adverse effects in children.

Supermarkets (Product Source)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to UK supermarkets to encourage them to source more of their products from Northern Ireland producers.

Angela Smith: The issue of local sourcing has been a high priority since the UK supermarkets entered the Northern Ireland retail market. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Invest Northern Ireland continue to work closely with the retail multiples to encourage them to increase trade with Northern Ireland suppliers. Also, as part of the implementation of the Fit For Market report, supermarket representatives are currently participating in the development of a domestic marketing campaign for local produce. I consider that this work is vital to maximise the uptake of local produce and bring long-term benefit to the Northern Ireland agri-food industry.

Temporary Accommodation

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are living in temporary accommodation, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) council area.

David Hanson: The information is not available in the form requested. The Housing Executive has information only in respect of those accepted as homeless whom it places in temporary accommodation. The following table sets out that information by district council level.
	
		Numbers in temporary accommodation by district council area at 7 December 2005
		
			 Council area Number 
		
		
			 Belfast 639 
			 Antrim 17 
			 Moyle 1 
			 Ballymena 50 
			 Ballymoney 4 
			 Carrickfergus 13 
			 Coleraine 38 
			 Larne 5 
			 Newtownabbey 12 
			 Armagh 5 
			 Banbridge 5 
			 Dungannon 23 
			 Fermanagh 35 
			 Craigavon 12 
			 Newry 24 
			 North Down 24 
			 Castlereagh 14 
			 Downpatrick 53 
			 Lisburn 130 
			 Ards 14 
			 Derry 125 
			 Cookstown 1 
			 Limavady 2 
			 Magherafelt 0 
			 Omagh 7 
			 Strabane 4 
			 Total 1,257

Tourist Attractions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop the Black Pigs Dyke as a tourist attraction.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) currently has no plans to develop the Black Pigs Dyke as a tourist attraction.
	The NITB recognises that there are many visitor attractions across Northern Ireland that add to the overall visitor experience, however, the Black Pigs Dyke has not been prioritised within NITB's SFA for development from 200407.
	Local authorities also have a level of responsibility for development of tourism attractions within their respective areas. To gain recognition as a tourism attraction local authorities take the lead in highlighting key tourism strengths within their area.

Travel Schemes

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the all-island free travel scheme for Ireland to be operational.

Shaun Woodward: I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 694W.

Travellers

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with authorities in Scotland regarding improvements for travellers from Northern Ireland using the roads infrastructure to and from the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan.

Shaun Woodward: There have been no such discussions. However, in late 2004 there was correspondence between John Spellar MP, the then Minister for Regional Development and Nicol Stephen MSP, the then Minister for Transport in the Scottish Executive, welcoming plans for substantial improvements on both the A75 and A77 routes scheduled for completion between 2006 and 2008.

Water Supplies/Usage

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the number of homes in Northern Ireland that are not connected to the water supply, broken down by constituency; and what plans he has to make this facility available to each of those homes.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs Katharine Bryan, dated 13 December 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about the number of homes in Northern Ireland that are not connected to the water supply, broken down by constituency, and what plans there are to make the facility available to each of those homes (36549). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	It is estimated that less than 1% of households in Northern Ireland are not connected to the public water supply. Water Service does not, at present, have a database of all household customers connect to mains water and cannot therefore supply the information on a constituency basis. However, a comprehensive customer database is currently being developed in preparation for the proposed introduction of domestic charging from April 2007 and this will identify any households not connected to the public water supply.
	Water service currently has a duty to provide water and sewerage services but is not required to do anything which is not practicable at a reasonable cost. For this reason, Water Service has always operated a policy of reasonable cost. The allowances for watermain schemes are 5,000 for properties, which were occupied and on which rates were being paid on or before 31 May 2000, and 2,900 for other properties. The higher reasonable cost allowance for existing properties not connected to the public watermain reflects the importance attached to reducing the number of such properties. The policy provides Water Service with an objective mechanism to consider applications for new water and sewerage services in a consistent and equitable manner. The policy seeks to strike a balance between the interests of householders and taxpayers, within the context of resources made available for water and sewerage services.
	Where the cost of providing a first-time service exceeds the total reasonable cost allowance, Water Service will proceed with the scheme if the householders who will benefit from the scheme agree to meet the balance.

Water Supplies/Usage

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the average volume of water used by a (a) domestic residence and (b) domestic residence where the supply pipe also supplies a farm in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years.

Shaun Woodward: The chief executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 14 December 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about the average volume of water used by (a) domestic residence and (b) domestic residence where the supply pipe also supplies a farm in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years (37012). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	The volume of water used by domestic properties varies considerably depending on the type of property, the household size and other factors such as the number of domestic appliances. However, the average volume of water used by all types of domestic properties in Northern Ireland was 348 litres per property per day in 2003/04 and 346 litres per property per day in 2004/05. These figures are derived from data obtained from a sample of 102 discrete areas, containing 5,000 domestic properties, which broadly represent the proportion of property types across Northern Ireland.
	Domestic residence, where the supply pipe also supplies farms are metered. The volume of metered supply includes water for both domestic and agricultural consumption and information on these two elements is not directly available. In other words, we do not collect directly the information you require on the volume of water used by farmhouses. However, the nearest estimate of the domestic consumption could be obtained from the data relating to detached properties which is included in the sample of 5,000 domestic properties. The volume of water used by detached properties was 415 litres per property per day in 2003/04 and 448 litres per property per day in 2004/05.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Animal Welfare

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Guide Dogs for the Blind on the impact of louder fireworks on dogs and other animals.

Gerry Sutcliffe: None.

Asbestos

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will remove textured coatings from the list of licensed materials that only licensed, trained and insured asbestos contractors are authorised to remove.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Commission is currently consulting on a proposal that would mean that work with textured coatings containing asbestos would no longer need to be done by licensed asbestos contractors. It is one of a number of proposals set out in the consultative document 'Proposals for revised Asbestos Regulations and an Approved Code of Practice' which seeks to implement amendments to the European Asbestos Worker Protection Directive and to simplify and rationalise the legislative regime by combining the three sets of current asbestos regulationson controls, licensing and prohibitionsinto one.
	Under current asbestos legislation and the proposed revisions, all work with asbestos, whether or not it needs to be done by a licensed contractor, requires a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, adequate control to prevent or reduce exposure, and trained personnel.
	Employers are also required to hold insurance under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act and there are no changes proposed to this legislation.

Carbon Capture

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with (a) oil and gas exploration companies and (b) power generation companies about potential liability for carbon reservoirs created in former oil and gas cavities as part of a carbon capture and storage scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: This issue has been raised by several stakeholders as a key issue for the implementation of carbon capture and storage. This is currently being considered by the Department as part of the broader issue of how to license and regulate carbon dioxide storage.

Carbon Capture

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made by his Department of the relative (a) ease of installation and (b) effectiveness of carbon capture technology applied (i) pre-combustion and (ii) post-combustion; and whether there are significant cost differences between the two extraction methods.

Malcolm Wicks: These technologies along with oxy-firing, were considered in the Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy. Based on current information we cannot distinguish between post and pre-combustion on the basis of ease of installation and effectiveness. Also, the estimated costs of the technologies are comparable.

Clean Coal Technology

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the costs and benefits of clean coal technology.

Malcolm Wicks: Since 1999 the Department has provided 13 million to the Cleaner Coal Technology Programme and an additional 3.5 million for collaborative Cleaner Coal Technology Projects with the USA.
	The Department has supported work on the development of Clean Coal Technologies to reduce atmospheric pollution (oxides of nitrogen and sulphur) and carbon dioxide emissions. The costs and benefits of reducing atmospheric pollution have not been assessed because the need for these technologies was driven by regulations such as the Large Combustion Plant Directive, and the methods for valuing the benefits of pollution abatement have a wide range of uncertainty.
	The cost of carbon dioxide abatement through the application of carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been examined in the DTI's Carbon Abatement Technologies Strategy (June 2005). This drew on a wide range of sources including programmes organised by the International Energy Agency as well as a public consultation, and estimated costs of 38-127 per tonne of carbon for abatement on coal fired plant. This should be compared to the social cost of carbon dioxide emissions, which is highly uncertain although a recent report for DEFRA indicated a range from 35-1,000 per tonne of carbon emitted.

Company Law Reform Bill (Explanatory Notes)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the Explanatory Notes to the Company Law Reform Bill [HL] were not made available at the same time as the Bill itself; on what date they were published; what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that Explanatory Notes to Government Bills sponsored by his Department are published at the same time as the Bill itself; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Our departmental policy is to publish Explanatory Notes at the same time as Bills are published wherever possible. The Company Law Reform Bill is a very substantial Bill, and the Explanatory Notes were not ready to be published until 17 November 2005. Explanatory material on key clauses was made available on the day that the Bill was published.

Concessionary Coal

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former mineworkers or beneficiaries in Midlothian are in receipt of (a) cash in lieu and (b) concessionary coal.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Midlothian constituency, 1,189 former mineworkers or beneficiaries are in receipt of cash in lieu and 237 are in receipt of concessionary fuel.

Domestic Gas Supplies

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what charges gas companies may make for the installation of domestic mains gas supply;
	(2)  what (a) grants and (b) other assistance are available to rural communities to receive mains gas supply.

Malcolm Wicks: Gas transporters are obliged, on request, to connect a domestic property within 23 metres of an existing gas main. Under normal circumstances, the gas transporter will apply a standard charge, agreed with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) for providing such a connection. This charge varies slightly between different parts of Great Britain. The transporter will ordinarily bear the cost of installing the first 10 metres of pipe in the public highway. Gas transporters are able to recover the reasonable costs of providing connections to properties more than 23 metres from a gas main. Connections may also be arranged through gas suppliers, which will oversee the process, but will charge the customer for this service.
	There are no grants for the provision of connections to the mains gas network. Grants to install gas central heating systems are available to qualifying households under the Government's Warm Front scheme.

Environmental Best Practice (Businesses)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to promote environmentally responsible behaviour by British businesses.

Malcolm Wicks: We expect companies to comply with the legal requirements on environmental matters and we encourage them to exceed those standards in addressing the environmental impacts of their activities. The Government's approach to encouraging responsible business practice is outlined on the Government website on Corporate Social Responsibilitywww.csr.gov.uk.
	We promote environmentally responsible behaviour in a number of ways, for example, through the Envirowise advisory service which we fund with DEFRA for companies wishing to improve their environmental efficiency.
	The Department is also helping to return landfill tax monies from the Business Resource and Efficiency Programme back to business through:
	The Technology Programme, including previous calls for proposals on Waste Management and Minimisation and Meeting the Challenge of the Zero Emission Enterprise; and current calls on Design and Manufacture of Sustainable Products and Contaminated Land Remediation Technologies;
	Support for the Resource Efficiency and Waste Management Knowledge Transfer Network;
	Support for the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme.

Fireworks

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many injuries associated with fireworks and bonfires there were over the recent Halloween period; and what the figures were in each year since 2001, broken down by primary care trust area.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Each year firework injury statistics are collected over a four-week period around 5 November, this includes Halloween. Statistics for 2005 will not be available until March 2006. Copies of the total injury statistics for NHS trusts for the years 200104 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Fuel Cell Technology

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department gives to the (a) development of fuel cell technology and (b) application of such technology to the transport sector.

Malcolm Wicks: DTI provides support for industrial collaborative research and development for fuel cells through the DTI Technology programme. The programme seeks to advance fuel cell technology for both stationary power generation and transport applications, with a view to achieving the cost reductions and performance levels necessary for commercial deployment.
	Basic research in universities on both fuel cells and hydrogen is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), including through the SUPERGEN initiative.
	The Government also provided funding of over 450,000 for the trial of three hydrogen-powered fuel cell buses in London as part of the CUTE project. 7.5 million of funding has been provided for the fuel cell and low carbon vehicle technology Centre of Excellence (CENEX) based in Loughborough.
	On 14 June 2005, the Government announced a funding package worth 15 million for hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration projects. This scheme is currently in preparation, and will require EC state aids approval.

Gas

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the future security of supply of the importation of gas.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 December 2005
	Diverse supplies, delivered through competitive markets, are the most efficient way to ensure security of gas supply. The Government is committed to working with others to provide an appropriate framework for international trade in gas, and to developing partnerships with gas producing and transit countries. However, there is concern that changes in other Governments' national rules are potentially diverting cargoes of Liquefied Natural Gas away from Great Britain, and that gas supplies via the interconnector from continental Europe have not fully responded to recent strong price signals; Ofgem and the Government are pursuing these issues with the European Commission. The Government's Energy Review, due to report in 2006, will look at the reliability of energy supplies in the medium and long term.

Gas

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost of boosting the storage capacity of gas in the UK from 11 days to 60 days.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK currently has gas storage capacity of more than 75 days. This is mainly in the rough gas storage facility operated by Centrica Storage Ltd but also includes capacity available in the medium and short range storage facilities, for example at Hornsea. Further Information is available on the National Grid website: http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/Data
	Subject to regulatory consents, a further 10 storage projects could be completed by 2010. Together these would more than double GB's storage capacity. Independent energy consultants estimate that the investment in these projects might in total cost some 1.3 billion.

Greenhouse Gases

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was allocated to support industries developing new methods of reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases in 200506.

Malcolm Wicks: The Carbon Trust is an independent company grant funded predominantly by Defra for England, and via separate relationships with the devolved Administrations, to take the lead on business and public sector energy efficiency and encourage the development of a low carbon sector in the UK. Defra has allocated 60.6 million in 200506 to support the work of the Carbon Trust.
	The Government also support the development of low carbon energy generation technologies. This is a commitment of around 500 million between 200208. Eligible renewable energy sources can also gain support through the Renewables Obligation.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role fuel cells will play in implementing the Low Carbon Buildings programme.

Malcolm Wicks: The Low Carbon Buildings programme is currently being finalised and is due to start in April 2006, subject to state aid approval. The programme will be technology blind and it is intended that fuel cells technologies in micro-CHP mode will be eligible for support.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the responses to the consultation paper Microgeneration Strategy and Low Carbon Buildings programme.

Malcolm Wicks: The responses to the consultation paper on the Microgeneration Strategy and Low Carbon Buildings programme were published on Monday 12 December and can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/consultations/consult_closed.shtml.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the final version of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's national strategy.

Malcolm Wicks: I expect to receive the NDA's proposed strategy before the House rises for the Christmas recess. It will go to the Scottish Ministers at the same time. The Scottish Ministers and I will then have until 31 March 2006 to consider and approve the NDA's proposed strategy.

Nuclear Power Stations

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what parliamentary approval is required to confirm a decision to commence building (a) a nuclear power station and (b) a series of nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: Under section 36 of the 1989 Electricity Act approval is required from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (in Scotland approval is required by Scottish Ministers) for the construction or operation of any power station with a capacity in excess of 50 MW, which would include all nuclear power stations.
	Parliamentary approval is not required to confirm a decision for the building of power stations of any type.

Nuclear Power Stations

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies his Department has made of the impact on carbon dioxide release of the expanded use of lower grade ores in the production of nuclear energy.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has undertaken no studies to examine the impact that lower grade uranium ores would make on carbon dioxide emissions.
	However, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency has informed the Department that there is no imminent use of low-grade ore envisioned. And, the nature of the ores to be mined in the near future is very much similar to that of the past 40 years.

Nuclear Power Stations

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the exclusion zone for building around nuclear power stations is.

Malcolm Wicks: There is no exclusion zone for building around nuclear power stations. Developments can, and do take place. These are controlled by the local planning authorities, which consult with relevant stakeholders including the station operator and the Health and Safety Executive. A developer must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of these bodies that any proposed development does not have a significant adverse effect on the safety case for the site.

Nuclear-related Research

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has allocated to nuclear-related research in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The expenditure on nuclear energy technology research from 2000 to 2005 is set out in the following tables.
	
		Expenditure by the EPSRC on nuclear fission research
		
			 Financial year Nuclear fission ( million) 
		
		
			 200001 0.13 
			 200102 0.33 
			 200203 0.31 
			 200304 0.21 
			 200405 0.13 
		
	
	
		Figures for direct Government expenditure (but not including spending by the Research Councils) on nuclear fission
		
			 Financial year Nuclear fission ( million) 
		
		
			 200001 0 
			 200102 2 
			 200203 2.1 
			 200304 2.1 
			 200405 2.2 
		
	
	Note:
	Expenditure in support of Meteorological Office emergency response arrangements currently accounts for approximately 2.1 million.
	
		Figures for nuclear fusion R and D
		
			 Financial year Nuclear fusion ( million) 
		
		
			 200001 17.0 
			 200102 14.4 
			 200203 14.6 
			 200304 15.6 
			 200405 19.5 
		
	
	Note:
	The UK's indirect contribution to the European fusion programme, via central European Union funding for the EURATOM Framework Programme, is excluded.

Oil/Gas Supplies

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the proposed changes to the oil tax regime on future (a) exploration for and (b) production of oil and gas in the UK continental shelf.

Malcolm Wicks: The changes to the North sea fiscal regime announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his pre-Budget statement on 5 December were subject to detailed analysis to ensure that the North sea tax regime delivers the Government's objectives of striking the right balance between oil producers and consumers, by promoting investment and ensuring fairness for taxpayers. They are not expected to have a significant effect on exploration for oil and gas on the UK continental shelf. They are also not expected to have a significant effect on production. While the increase in the rate of the supplementary charge may impact a very small number of marginal investments, the Ring Fence Expenditure Supplement should provide an incentive to investment, particularly by new entrants, a small but important sector for the continued vitality of the North sea. The industry can now plan for the future safe in the knowledge that there will be no further increases in North sea taxation for the lifetime of this Parliament and with the offer of discussions with Government to tackle wider structural issues which affect the stability of the North sea oil tax regime.

Peninsular Power Ltd

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what indications have been given to Peninsular Power Limited concerning his Department's likely response to applications from that company for extensions of the crop targets specified in the terms of the offer of a grant under its Bio-energy Capital Grant scheme to the proposed biomass energy generator at Winkleigh in Devon.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has received no such request from the company. If the Department were to receive such a request, our requirements are amendable, but consideration of any amendment would need to ensure that (a) they are in line with the objectives of the scheme (b) any revisions are not likely to affect the assessment of the competition under which the grant undertakings were originally awarded.

Phoenix Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the Phoenix Fund; what other funding streams he expects will be available for community development funding agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Phoenix Fund was introduced in 1999 as a time-limited programme to help build good practice on business support for under-represented groups and deprived communities. It was not designed to provide long-term core funding for these organisations. Under the 2004 spending review for the period 200607 to 200708, the DTI is making available a 6 million per annum contribution to regional development agencies, toward their support for enterprise in under-represented groups and deprived communities. The Government have also introduced the Community Investment Tax Relief scheme to enable community development funding agencies to raise finance from the private sector. The first 23 accredited Community Development Finance Institutions are aiming to raise over 80 million this way, which is double the figure that has been committed to the sector through the Phoenix Fund. Furthermore, following the Graham Review of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme, there is now scope for more Community Development Finance Institutions to become Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme lenders under the new arrangements and it is hoped this can be taken forward from next March.

Phoenix Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with regional development agencies about replacement finance for the Phoenix Fund.

Alun Michael: The Phoenix Fund was only ever intended to be a time limited, pump priming fund and was, exceptionally, extended to 2006.
	Under the 2004 Spending Review for the period 200607 to 200708, DTI is making available a 6 million per annum contribution to regional development agencies (RDAs), toward their support for enterprise in under-represented groups and deprived communities. As part of our ongoing engagement with regional development agencies (RDAs), the Secretary of State and I met RDA representatives in November when we discussed the future promotion of enterprise in the regions and the RDAs' contribution towards this.

Power Supplies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with energy providers on their ability to protect vulnerable individuals in the event of a breakdown in power delivery; and if he will publish the (a) protocol for identifying such individuals and (b) guidance on support to be provided to them.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 8 December 2005
	While gas supplies will be tighter this winter than in previous years, National Grid report that under all credible scenarios gas and electricity supply can be maintained to domestic customers, small businesses and other organisations. The regulation of gas and electricity supply, including arrangements in respect of vulnerable customers, is the responsibility of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). Ofgem requires gas and electricity suppliers, under section 37 of their licences, to provide services for persons who are of pensionable age, disabled or chronically sick. These obligations include the maintenance of a Priority Service Register, and the provision of special services to meet the access, communication and safety needs of eligible customers. Relevant information about customers on the register is passed to gas and electricity distribution companies to enable them to comply with their obligations in the event of certain categories of supply failure.

Renewable Energy

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage smaller, non-excluded energy production schemes being set up to take advantage of the Renewable Energy Certificates.

Malcolm Wicks: I assume the hon. Member is referring to Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs).
	Many microgenerators already benefit from the Renewables Obligation (RO). However, feedback from microgenerators, as part of the current Review of the RO, suggested that the some of the administrative requirements might act as a barrier to accessing the benefits of the RO. One potential barrier is that the RO order defines the obligation in terms of the supply of electricity to customers in Great Britain. As a result there is a requirement that even generators that consume their own electricity must first sell it to a supplier before buying it back for their own consumption.
	The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill is currently before Parliament, and the Government intend to use this to introduce primary legislation that would allow the removal of this requirement for small generators. The Government would also like to use the same Bill to introduce primary legislation, which would allow agents to act on behalf of small generators through the process of accreditation and claiming ROCs and allowing ROCs to be issued to agents. It will also allow agents to amalgamate the output of small generators.
	The Government are also carrying out further work, outside of the current Review of the RO, to address other barriers preventing the widespread take-up of microgeneration technologies. The Government will be publishing a strategy for the promotion of microgeneration next year.

Renewable Energy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will develop mechanisms for supporting fuel cell technology and hydrogen energy akin to the Renewables Obligation.

Malcolm Wicks: There are no plans at the present time to do so. Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies offer significant potential to contribute to the Government's target of 60 per cent. CO 2 reduction by 2050. On the 14 June, the Government announced a funding package worth 15 million for hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration projects.

Social/Community Policies (Businesses)

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to promote responsible social and community practices by business.

Malcolm Wicks: DTI leads for the Government on corporate social responsibility, in liaison with other Departments who will all have an interest in this wide ranging agenda.
	Our approach to corporate social responsibility is to create the right framework to encourage companies to make socially responsible practice an integral part of their business operations, to the benefit of both society and business.
	By working with organisations like Business in the Community we have supported a range of initiatives that benefit local communities. The Government also encourage corporate community involvement through, for example by means of the publication of 'A guide to tax incentives for corporate giving', which was published jointly by HM Treasury and Home Office.
	Information about the Government's approach can be found on the Government CSR website www.csr.gov.uk.

Sunday Trading

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact that increasing Sunday trading hours in England would have on (a) the volume of road traffic, (b) the number of shoppers travelling to (i) out-of-town shopping centres, (ii) main supermarkets and (iii) high street stores and (c) smaller local convenience stores.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We are currently considering the case for liberalising Sunday trading hours. The factors referred to by the hon. Member will clearly be relevant to this trade and industry.

Sunday Trading

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what form of public consultation will take place as part of the review he has announced into Sunday trading laws; and whether he expects the review will take evidence from the public.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We will be consulting widely and considering the views of all interested parties, including members of the public, before any decisions are taken. Ministerial colleagues and officials are actively discussing with stakeholders and inviting views and-evidence on the issue. Officials have also commissioned a cost benefit analysis of the case for further liberalisation from independent consultants, which will be published.

Sunday Trading

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce the timetable for his proposed review of Sunday trading laws; what the terms of reference will be; who he expects will lead the review; to whom they will report; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There is no fixed timetable for this work. Departmental officials have been asked to evaluate the case for further liberalisation of Sunday trading hours. To assist in this, we have invited independent consultants to carry out a cost-benefit analysis of the options.

Telecommunications

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 798W, on telecommunications, when the chief executive of Ofcom will respond.

Alun Michael: The chief executive responded to the hon. Member on 2 December. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Wind Farms

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for consent to the development of (a) offshore and (b) onshore wind farms have been made to his Department under (i) section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and (ii) section 3 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 in each of the last five years; and what percentage have been (A) granted and (B) refused.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is set out in the following table
	
		
			  Applications 
			  Onshore Offshore Offshore 
			  S36 S36 TWA 
		
		
			 2001 0 1 0 
			 2002 1 5 4 
			 2003 3  1 
			 2004 2 1 0 
			 2005 2 5 0 
			 Total 8 12 5 
		
	
	The number granted, refused and not yet determined is as follows:
	
		
			 Total Granted Refused Not yet determined 
			  Number Percentage  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 25 12 48 0 13 52 
		
	
	In addition two applications which had been received before 2001 were determined in the period. One was granted and one refused.

Wind Farms

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of wind levels in the Bridgwater constituency; and in what locations.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has made no assessment of the wind levels in his Bridgewater constituency. However, wind levels are of interest to wind farm developers, as it will determine whether any proposed development is viable.

Wind Farms

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation has been undertaken on off-shore wind turbines in the Bristol channel.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has undertaken no consultation on offshore wind turbines in the Bristol channel.

Wind Farms

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines he has issued on the siting of wind turbines near to nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: None.

Wind Farms

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has commissioned on wind levels at Hinkley Point nuclear reactor.

Malcolm Wicks: None.

Wind Farms

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research he has commissioned into the costs and benefits of wind farms; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Environmental Change Institute, on behalf of the DTI, recently published a report into wind power and the UK wind resource. Some of the report's main findings were:
	Wind power availability is greater during winter than at other times of the year, and is on average stronger during the day than overnight;
	Wind power delivers around two and a half times as much electricity during periods of high electricity demand as during low demand periods;
	Low wind speed conditions affecting 90 per cent. or more of the UK would occur in around one hour every five years during winter; and
	The chance of wind turbines shutting down due to high winds speed conditions is very rarehigh winds affecting 40 per cent. or more of the UK would occur in around one hour every 10 years.
	A copy of the report is available online from www.eci.ox.ac.uk/renewables/ukwind.

Wind Farms

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he will take of the protection afforded to the North Wales coastline by the Constable Bank in considering the application for consent to develop the Gwynt y Mor wind farm.

Malcolm Wicks: Offshore wind farm developers are required to produce an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) when submitting an application for consent. The Government will take into account the EIA, and many other considerations, before reaching a decision on whether to grant consent. The Government will also consult statutory advisors such as the Countryside Council for Wales.
	A copy of npower renewables non-technical summary of the Gwynt y Mor environmental statement is available from their website. Their website address is http://www.npower-renewables.com/gwyntymor/index.asp

Wind Farms

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he will take of the cost of key components in considering the application for consent to develop the Gwynt-y-Mor wind farm.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government do not take into account the cost of the project when considering an application for consent to develop an offshore wind farm. The cost of the Gwynt-y-Mor wind turbine project is a matter for the developer.

Wind Farms

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial compensation is made available to persons whose property values are adversely affected by the development of wind farms pursuant to the granting of departmental consents.

Malcolm Wicks: A study by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2004 suggests that wind farms have no lasting impact on UK house prices. It shows that local house prices recover from any initial impact once a wind farm has been operating for two years.
	Also evidence from the Public attitude to wind farms: a survey of local residents in Scotland conducted by MORI in 2003 suggests that those living nearest to wind farms are their strongest advocates. The results of this survey can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/environment/pawslr-00.asp

Worker Exploitation

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role his Department plays in tackling exploitation of workers in developing countries.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK has played a leading role in ensuring that the international framework to promote international labour rights and to tackle abuses of those rights throughout the world is in place, particularly through its work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which is the UN specialised agency responsible for developing, promoting and monitoring labour standards. DWP as lead Department for the ILO play an active role in the ILO Committee on Multinational Enterprises and DTI fully supports the promotion and follow-up of the ILO Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy which seeks to enhance the positive social and labour effects of multinational corporations' operations throughout the world.
	We also actively encourage UK-based international companies which operate in other countries, and which are subject to the laws applicable in those countries, to apply high standards of corporate behaviour, including those which protect workers' rights.
	For example, DTI promotes the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which recommend standards of responsible business conduct for businesses operating in or from the 39 adhering countries and have written to the FTSE 100 companies to raise awareness of these expectations. We have also set out our approach to encouraging environmentally and socially responsible practice internationally in our International Strategic Framework on Corporate Social Responsibility published in March.

HEALTH

Abattoirs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what prosecutions of abattoirs for breaches of legislation on standards of hygiene have (a) taken place and (b) succeeded in each year since 1985 in which proceedings are complete.

Caroline Flint: Figures on prosecutions for breaches of legislation on standards of hygiene are only available for the period since the establishment of the Meat Hygiene Service in 1995. Prior to that date, enforcement responsibility lay with individual local authorities and no central record of prosecutions is available.
	The table provides details of prosecutions pursued in relation to breaches of fresh meat and poultry meat hygiene regulations and legislation in respect of removal of specified risk material at licensed meat plants (abattoirs, cutting plants and cold stores).
	
		
			  Prosecutions pursued Successful cases 
		
		
			 199697 7 6 
			 199798 21 20 
			 199899 28 27 
			 19992000 20 18 
			 200001 6 6 
			 200102 12 12 
			 200203 6 5 
			 200304 22 22 
			 200405 18 14 
			 200506 13 13

Acute Trust Hospitals

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the acute trust hospitals with major accident and emergency departments that do not also have paediatric services on the same site.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of cases of age-related macular degeneration caused by smoking in each year since 199798.

Rosie Winterton: The data requested is not routinely collected. A paper from the British Journal of Ophthalmology in May 2005 estimated that approximately 28,000 cases of age-related macular degeneration in people aged 75 years and above in the United Kingdom may be attributable to smoking.

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the UK voted at the EU's Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in October on the application to accept genetically modified maize MON863.

Caroline Flint: A vote on a proposal for the authorisation of food ingredients derived from genetically modified MON863 maize was taken at the European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 2425 October. The United Kingdom voted in favour of this proposal, having been satisfied that the necessary criteria of safety, consumer information, and nutritional quality had been met.

Alcohol-related Illness

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 710W, on alcohol-related illness, what the equivalent figures for 200405 were.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Counts of finished admission episodes for selected alcohol(44)related diseases by strategic HA of residence and age grouping
		
			 Strategic health authority of Residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and above Age not known 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 161 1,649 3 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 123 829  
			 Q03 Essex SHA 72 1,079  
			 Q04 North West London SHA 80 1,473 5 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 68 1,068 3 
			 Q06 North East London SHA 53 1,246 2 
			 Q07 South East London SHA 88 1,835 2 
			 Q08 South West London SHA 121 1,284 3 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 150 1,738 2 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 164 1,304  
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 229 1,307  
			 Q12 West Yorkshire SHA 165 1,438  
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 291 2,249 1 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester SHA 398 2,974 1 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 339 3,850  
			 Q16 Thames Valley SHA 143 1,246  
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 193 1,587 1 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway SHA 164 963  
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex SHA 265 1,894  
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 154 1,553 2 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula SHA 181 1,334 5 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset SHA 94 803  
			 Q23 South Yorkshire SHA 128 1,227  
			 Q24 Trent SHA 230 2,298  
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 84 1,163  
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 170 1,330  
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country SHA 241 2,279  
			 Q28 West Midlands South SHA 162 1,367  
			 Q99 Wales 20 137  
			 S Scotland 3 48  
			 U EnglandNot otherwise specified 28 1,017 31 
			 W Wales  1  
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 14 97 1 
			 Y Unknown 33 614 33 
			 Z Northern Ireland  18  
			 TOTAL  4,809 46,299 95 
		
	
	(44)Alcohol related diseases defined as following ICD-10 codes recorded in primary diagnosis
	F10Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	K70Alcoholic liver disease
	T51Toxic effect of alcohol
	NHS Hospitals, England 200405
	Notes:
	A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Alcohol-related Illness

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons alcohol-related referrals to the community mental health service in the Alnwick and Berwick areas have been suspended; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for the Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health National Health Service Trust.

Ambulance Services

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many communication systems are in operation in the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire ambulance services; which of them are interoperable with those of the police services; how they would be unified in the event that the ambulance services were merged; and what the unification would cost.

Caroline Flint: I am informed by Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire strategic health authority that there are three communication systems in operation in the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire ambulance services. The system in Wiltshire Ambulance National Health Service Trust is interoperable with those of the police services.
	It has not yet been agreed how these systems would be unified or what the cost of unification would be as the planned structure for the new ambulance trust has not yet been finalised.

Avian Influenza

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the process by which an emergency mass vaccination for influenza would take place.

Rosie Winterton: It is important to be clear about the differences between seasonal 'flu, avian 'flu and pandemic 'flu. Avian influenza is a disease which mainly affects birds. Seasonal 'flu refers to the virus that circulates in the human population and causes widespread illness each winter. Pandemic 'flu will only occur after an avian virus has mutated into a novel strain which can spread easily between humans, and to which they do not have immunity.
	The Department is currently developing plans for mass vaccination for pandemic influenza. Plans will depend on a number of factors, such as the rate at which a vaccine is supplied to the United Kingdom. In October 2005, the Department announced that it is inviting manufacturers to tender for a contract to supply pandemic influenza vaccine once the pandemic strain is known. The proposal to purchase in advance the capacity needed to make a pandemic influenza vaccine will make sure that an effective vaccine is available for use in the UK as quickly as possible after an influenza starts. The UK will need approximately 120 million doses to be available as soon as possible.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is being prepared on prevention of the spread of avian influenza to humans; and what the cost has been to date.

Rosie Winterton: It is important to be clear about the differences between seasonal 'flu, avian 'flu and pandemic 'flu. Avian influenza is a disease which mainly affects birds. Seasonal flu refers to the virus that circulates in the human population and causes widespread illness each winter. Pandemic 'flu will only occur after an avian virus has mutated into a novel strain which can easily spread between humans, and to which they do not have immunity.
	Avian influenza is a disease of birds and very few humans have been affected. HN1 is the strain currently circulating in poultry and is known as avian (bird) 'flu. Although there is a risk that bird 'flu may spread to the United Kingdom, the risk to humans remains low. The Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has produced a contingency plan for dealing with Avian influenza and this is available on their website at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/avianinfluenza-contplan.htm
	A joint Government Department and industry working group on worker protection has produced guidance for poultry workers on protection against the risk of Avian influenza. This was published on Defra's website on 31 October and will be made available to the poultry industry through their poultry organisations. All involved in developing the guidance have borne their own costs. Defra will be paying for the production of leaflets, posters, etc.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she has put in place for enhanced medical surveillance of human population cohorts assessed as most at risk from co-infection by the H5N1 and a human host adapted influenza virus.

Rosie Winterton: It is important to be clear about the differences between seasonal 'flu, avian 'flu and pandemic flu. Avian influenza refers to the virus that circulates in the human population and cause widespread illness each winter. Pandemic 'flu will only occur after an avian virus has mutated into a novel strain which can spread easily between humans, and to which they do not have immunity.
	The cohort at most risk from co-infection by the H5N1 and a human influenza virus is that group of people who are exposed to wild birds or poultry in which avian influenza is suspected or confirmed. Among the measures which are recommended around such incidents, which will be overseen by the Health Protection Agency, is the monitoring of the health of all such people after assessment of their risk of exposure.
	Our present strategy is risk based and there is no evidence that there is at present an elevation of risk to people who are exposed to wild birds or poultry in the United Kingdom.

Avian Influenza

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority she gives to workers in the energy industry in her contingency plans to protect key workers in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza.

Rosie Winterton: It is important to be clear about the differences between seasonal 'flu, avian 'flu and pandemic 'flu. Avian influenza is a disease which mainly affects birds. Seasonal 'flu refers to the virus that circulates in the human population and causes widespread illness each winter. Pandemic 'flu will only occur after an avian virus has mutated into a novel strain which can spread easily between humans, and to which they do not have immunity.
	The Government are building a stockpile of antiviral drugs to treat people who become ill with pandemic 'flu rather than for prophylaxis. Since the stockpile of Tamiflu is intended to be large enough to cover all of those likely to become ill, the issue of prioritisation between competing claims for antiviral drugs ought not to arise. However, if a pandemic strikes before the stockpile is complete or the clinical attack rate is higher than expected, antivirals will need to be prioritised, initially health care workers, and to those who fall into one of the clinical at risk groups, as defined by seasonal 'flu. Once a vaccine for the pandemic 'flu strain has been developed, health care workers and other essential service key workers may need to be vaccinated first, as it will be important to maintain health and other essential services.
	Final decisions will be made based on emerging information about the pandemic virus. However, given it is unlikely that a vaccine will be available for the first wave of a pandemic, it is important that businesses consider how they would maintain services.

Avian Influenza

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make use of (a) schools, (b) village halls and (c) other public buildings as temporary health care facilities in the event of an influenza pandemic; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: These are issues for local planners. The UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan contains estimates of potential impact on primary and secondary care which local planners can use to ensure that their contingency plans are appropriate for a potential influenza pandemic. We have also provided operational guidance to the national health service on preparing for an influenza pandemic to help organisations formulate their plans.

Avian Influenza

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many syringes and needles she estimates will be necessary to deal with a pandemic influenza threat; what timetable has been put in place for their procurement; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Arrangements for accessing supplies of a pandemic vaccine are still the subject of contractual discussion with manufacturers. Those arrangements will determine the requirement for needles and syringes and decisions on procurement are dependent on the outcome of those discussions.

Blood/Bone Marrow Donors

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to encourage people from black and minority ethnic communities to become (a) blood donors and (b) bone marrow donors.

Caroline Flint: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for managing blood supplies in England and North Wales and for managing the British Bone Marrow Register (BBMR). It does this through its operating divisionthe National Blood Service (NBS). The NBS recruits blood donors from the general public and potential bone marrow donors from the active blood donor populations.
	In 2004, the NBS commissioned the Central Office of Information to lead on a long-term strategy to attract more people from ethnic communities to give blood and join the BBMR. A campaign called OneBlood is addressing existing barriers by raising awareness of the importance and relevance of blood donation, encouraging individual and community ownership of the issue, tackling religious objections and myths and encouraging blood donation.
	The NBS has also developed an advertising campaign, Are you my Type?' which features black and minority ethnic celebrities.

Borellia

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the use of prolonged intravenous ceftriaxone therapy in the treatment of Borellia infection.

Caroline Flint: The British National Formulary recommends that ceftriaxone may be used intravenously for Lyme disease associated with moderate to severe cardiac or neurological abnormalities, late Lyme disease and Lyme arthritis, with a duration of treatment of generally two to four weeks. For Lyme arthritis a suitable oral follow on antibacterial agent is needed. Early Lyme disease can be treated with doxycycline, or amoxicillin if doxycycline is contra-indicated.

Breast Cancer

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of non-urgent referrals by general practitioners each year for investigations into possible breast cancer which are later identified as having breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: All women with suspected breast cancer should be referred urgently by their general practitioner under the two week out-patient waiting time standard. From the data centrally collected, we cannot identify those women who were routinely referred with other breast conditions but who were subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer. The number of patients who were treated for breast cancer who were referred under the two week wait and those who were referred through other routes is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of patients treated for breast cancer who were urgently referred under the two week wait Number of patients treated for breast cancer who were referred through other routes(45) Percentage of patients treated for breast cancer who were referred through other routes(45) 
		
		
			 200203 11,705 16,075 42.13 
			 200304 15,163 16,090 48.52 
			 200405 14,575 16,244 52.70 
		
	
	(45)Includes patients referred routinely with other breast conditions and those patients referred through the breast screening service.
	The Cancer Plan target of 31 days from diagnosis with cancer to first treatment, to be achieved from December 2005, picks up those patients who are referred with other conditions but who are subsequently diagnosed with cancer to ensure they receive prompt treatment.

Cancelled Operations

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled by Lancashire hospital trust (a) for medical reasons and (b) because of lack of beds at (i) Royal Preston hospital and (ii)Queen's Park hospital in each month between January 2004 and September 2005.

Liam Byrne: The information is not available in the format requested. However, information relating to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust and the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS trust is available on a quarterly basis which is shown in the following table.
	
		Lancashire teaching hospitals NHS trustcancelled operations
		
			 Year/ quarter  Number of last minute cancelled operations 
		
		
			 200304   
			 Q4 January to March 145 
			
			 200405   
			 Q1 April to June 102 
			 Q2 July to September 114 
			 Q3 October to December 059 
			 Q4 January March 131 
			
			 200506   
			 Q1 April to June 123 
			 Q2 July to September 84 
		
	
	
		East Lancashire hospitals NHS trustcancelled operations
		
			 Year/ quarter  Number of last minute cancelled operations 
		
		
			 200304   
			 Q4 January to March 166 
			
			 200405   
			 Q1 April to June 176 
			 Q2 July to September 156 
			 Q3 October to December 127 
			 Q4 January to March 130 
			
			 200506   
			 Q1 April to June 112 
			 Q2 July to September 82 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Data are collected each quarter on an NHS trust basis only.
	2.A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital, or on the day of their operation. For example, if the patient is to be admitted to hospital on a Monday for an operation scheduled for the following day (Tuesday). If the hospital cancels the operation for non-clinical reasons on the Monday then this would count as a last minute cancellation. This includes patients who have not actually arrived in hospital, but who have been telephoned at home prior to their arrival.
	3.Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include: ward beds unavailable; surgeon unavailable; other emergency patient needing theatre; theatre list over-run; equipment failure; administrative error; anaesthetist unavailable; theatre staff unavailable; and critical care bed unavailable.
	Source:
	OMCO

Cancer

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to increase awareness of (a) breast and (b) prostate cancer among ethnic minority communities.

Rosie Winterton: Together with Cancer Research UK, the Department produces the Be Breast Aware leaflet, which advises women on how to be breast aware and what signs to watch for.
	The leaflet is widely available from primary care surgeries and breast screening units and is available in Bengali, Chinese, Gurjarati, Polish, Punjabi, Urdu and Vietnamese.
	Currently we are providing 58,710 to fund Breast Cancer Care's Here for you, Near to you project, which aims to provide breast cancer information and awareness for ethnic minority groups.
	We have previously provided Breakthrough Breast Cancer with 40,000 to fund their To develop the voice of breast cancer patients project. This project was aimed at difficult to reach groups, ethnic minorities and socially disadvantaged.
	Thanks to the work of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group (PCAG) we now have, for the first time, a definitive set of key messages for the general public about the prostate, including prostate cancer. 20 voluntary, patient and professional groups have signed up to the key messages.
	A pilot communications programme using the key messages, jointly funded by the Department and signatories to the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action, is expected to start in February 2006.
	We are currently providing 105,000 to the Prostate Cancer Charity to improve awareness of the risks and symptoms of prostate cancer in African and Afro-Caribbean men in Britain. We have previously provided the Prostate Cancer Charity with 135,000 to fund a project to increase awareness of prostate cancer in all men.

Care Homes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential care and nursing (a) homes and (b) places she estimates there will be in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007.

Liam Byrne: The Government believes that care homes are only one of a range of options that should be available to support people with long-term care needs.
	The Department has made no formal estimate of the number of care home places available between 2005 and 2007. However, according to the latest United Kingdom market survey, published in September 2005 by the independent healthcare analysts Laing and Buisson, the level of spare capacity in the care home sector has remained the same over the last three years, at 10,000 to 15,000 places, despite the fall in the number of care home places.

Chase Farm Hospital

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future provision of accident and emergency services at Chase Farm hospital.

Jane Kennedy: Responsibility for the provision of local services rests with local national health service organisations working in conjunction with local stakeholders and their strategic health authorities. I understand that the local disposition of services between Barnet hospital, which is a new private funded initiative funded hospital, and Chase Farm hospital is proposed to be the subject of an engagement exercise with local people. There is still much further work to be done taking into account the results of engagement before proposals reach the stage of formal consultation which is expected in the new year.
	A strategic outline case has already been approved for an 80 million development on the Chase Farm site which would replace many of the old Victorian buildings. A revised outline business case is expected by the North Central London strategic health authority towards the end of November for the development which will need to be seen in the context of the future services on the site. It offers a good opportunity to replace unacceptable buildings and to demonstrate a commitment for appropriate services on the Chase Farm hospital site well into the future.

Choose and Book Programme

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the Choose and Book programme not being fully operational on the predicted date on primary care trusts' ability to meet their targets;
	(2)  when the Choose and Book programme will become fully operational.

Liam Byrne: Meeting the public service agreement targets on booking and choice is not dependent on the choose and book service, as manual systems are available. Implementation and utilisation of the choose and book service requires complex changes to local information technology systems and management and clinical staff practices, which presents considerable challenges. National roll-out of choose and book is progressing, supported by the Department and NHS Connecting for Health. Utilisation is now increasing rapidly and it is anticipated that this will continue through 2006.

Citygate Public Affairs Ltd.

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings her Department has held with Citygate Public Affairs Ltd. since July.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not maintain a central list of such contacts. Ministers and civil servants, including special advisers meet many people as part of the process of policy development and business delivery. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Civil Service Code, Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and Guidance for civil servants on contacts with lobbyists and people outside Government.

Coeliac Disease

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research she has evaluated on the aetiology of coeliac disease and the effects on it of the consumption of genetically modified foodstuffs;
	(2)  what the incidence of coeliac disease was in each year from 1994 in (a) England, (b) Leeds and (c) Morley and Rothwell constituency.

Liam Byrne: It is known that coeliac disease is an inherited genetic disease caused by an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in foodstuffs containing wheat, barley and rye. We have not evaluated any research on the effects of consumption of genetically modified foodstuffs.
	Data on the incidence of coeliac disease is not collected, although Coeliac UK estimates that the condition affects one per cent. of the United Kingdom population.

Compensation Claims

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget of health trusts in England is to meet the cost of compensation claims in 2005.

Jane Kennedy: This information requested is not held centrally.

Continuing Care/Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how compliance with the directions on continuing care and delayed discharge issued on 27 February 2004 is monitored.

Liam Byrne: It is the responsibility of the strategic health authorities and national health service trusts to ensure that they adhere to their legal obligations.

Correspondence

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will answer the letters from the hon. Member for Colchester of 3 February 2005 and 15 September 2005.

Rosie Winterton: My noble Friend Lord Warner replied to the hon. Member's letter of 3 February 2005 on 16 February, and a copy of the reply has been sent to him.
	A careful search has shown no trace of his letter of 15 September 2005 being received in the Department. However, if the hon. Member would like to send a copy of this letter, I will ensure that a reply is sent to him without delay.

Cystic Fibrosis

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority will be attached to drugs for cystic fibrosis sufferers during the review of NHS commissioning arrangements for specialised conditions.

Liam Byrne: The review into specialised services commissioning arrangements has been set up to investigate current commissioning arrangements for specialised services in general and make proposals for improvements; it has been asked to report in the spring. The review will not be looking at individual services, like cystic fibrosis.

Darent Valley Hospital

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for out-patient appointments at Darent Valley Hospital.

Caroline Flint: Data about out-patient waiting times is collected at national health service trust level and by timeband. The median time waited for an outpatient appointment at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust at September 2005 was 7.4 weeks, with no patients waiting longer than 17 weeks.

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) dental nurses, (b) dental hygienists and (c) dental therapists there have been in the NHS in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The majority of dental care professionals are employed by independent general dental practitioners. We do not hold data centrally on the numbers of these professionals, but we estimate that there are currently some 30,000 dental nurses, 3,600 dental hygienists and 600 dental therapists working in England. The number of dental therapists is likely to increase very significantly over the next few years, following Government funding for a fourfold increase in the number of training places, from 50 to 200 annually, in 2003 to support the development of team working in dentistry.
	The table contains information on dental therapists directly employed in the hospital and community health services, that is excluding therapists employed by independent general dental practitioners.
	
		NHS hospital and community health servicesqualified dental therapists in England as at 30 September
		
			  Headcount 
		
		
			 1997 126 
			 1998 119 
			 1999 122 
			 2000 125 
			 2001 148 
			 2002 203 
			 2003 164 
			 2004 175 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census

Dentistry

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures she plans to put in place to ensure the creation of new dental schools do not adversely affect existing dental schools;
	(2)  what account she will take, when considering allocation of additional undergraduate dental places, of (a) the availability of significant core teaching facilities, (b) outreach facilities and (c) integration into Local Improvement Finance Trust schemes;
	(3)  whether existing dental schools will be able tomake their case for additional undergraduate dentalplaces on the same basis as applications for new dental schools when bids for additional places are considered.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are funding 170 additional training places for dental students. A joint implementation group (JIG) made up of representatives of the higher education funding council for England (HEFCE), the Department and the national health service is managing this expansion of dental training. In April the JIG invited bids for the training places from all higher education institutions in England indicating that it would apply the following criteria to their evaluation: geographical context; innovation; quality; value for money and widening participation. Bids have been received from both universities with existing dental schools and those currently without dental schools. The JIG will be making recommendations to the HEFCE Board for consideration at its meeting on 26 January 2006.

Dentistry

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of schedule 3, part 1, paragraph 3, of the new draft dental contract on registrations, with particular reference to the renewal of an age bar; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The purpose of schedule 3, part 1, paragraph 3, is to prohibit, unless there are reasonable grounds, dentists refusing to provide services on the grounds of age. The final dental contracts regulations, laid before Parliament on 9 December, amended the draft regulations in response to issues raised during consultation in the summer. The final regulations clarify that, subject to the agreement of the local primary care trust, a practice may enter into a contract to provide services to specific categories of patients such as children.

Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will (a) bring forward proposals to define in statute the dental services that a primary care trust has to commission and (b) seek to ensure that the relevant legislation sets targets for primary care trusts on dentistry.

Rosie Winterton: The new arrangements for local commissioning mean a primary care trust (PCT) must commission either mandatory services for a new general dental services (GDS) contract, and either mandatory and advanced services or advanced services only in a personal dental services contract (PDS). Mandatory services are defined at regulation 14 (4) of the National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) Regulations 2005.
	The regulations governing GDS contracts and PDS agreements do not set targets for PCTs on dentistry. In line with the approach set out in National Standards Local Action it is for PCTs to set standards or targets that are appropriate to their local circumstances.

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the new General Dental Services contract on the number of registrations with an NHS dentist; and whether dentists will be provided with incentives to ensure patients are registered.

Rosie Winterton: The evidence from personal dental service pilots is that moving away from a fee-per-item system supports dentists in carrying out simpler courses of treatment, such as fillings, where there are fewer individual items within each course. This frees up significant time that can be used in part to see a greater range of patients. The new general dental service (GDS) contract will allow all dentists to work in this way. The new type of GDS contract will also require dentists to have regard to the new National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on patient recall intervals. These guidelines are likely to mean many patients are recalled by their dentist less often than the current six monthly intervals. The dental reforms will also give primary care trusts (PCTs) the financial ability to commission new NHS dental services more readily if a dentist in their area chooses to deregister NHS patients.
	Dentists will no longer receive payment based on the number of patients registered but in return for a guaranteed annual contract value they will be expected to provide an agreed level of service over the course of a year. Taken in conjunction with the application of the NICE guidelines this will support improvement in patient access.
	It is not possible to predict with complete accuracy the overall impact that these measures will have but we are confident that they will together support significant improvement in patient access.

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her estimate is of the number of general and personal dental service dentists per head of population in (a) each strategic health authority area and (b) England.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Number of general dental services (GDS) andpersonal dental services (PDS) dentists per10,000 head of population in England bystrategic health authority (SHA) area as at 30 September 2005
		
			  Number of dentists Dentist per population per 10,000 
		
		
			 England 20,890 4.17 
			
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 924 4.13 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 873 5.40 
			 Essex 662 4.05 
			 North West London 1,145 6.24 
			 North Central London 766 6.24 
			 North East London 720 4.70 
			 South East London 741 4.89 
			 South West London 756 5.72 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 582 4.17 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 421 3.67 
			 North and East Yorkshire and  Northern Lincolnshire 659 3.99 
			 West Yorkshire 836 3.97 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 791 4.10 
			 Greater Manchester 1,059 4.17 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 1,063 4.51 
			 Thames Valley 1,132 5.34 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 802 4.45 
			 Kent and Medway 665 4.13 
			 Surrey and Sussex 1,427 5.54 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 1,039 4.71 
			 South West Peninsula 762 4.71 
			 Dorset and Somerset 560 4.62 
			 South Yorkshire 514 4.02 
			 Trent 1,019 3.79 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and  Rutland 579 3.64 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 602 4.01 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 930 4.09 
			 West Midlands South 707 4.53 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Data includes all notifications, received by the Dental Practice Board, up to 2 November 2005 for England and 19 October 2005 for SHA data. Figures for the numbers of dentists at specified dates may vary depending upon the notification period, e.g. data with a later notification period will include more recent notifications of dentists joining or leaving the GDS or PDS.
	2.A dentist may have a contract in more than one SHA. Therefore, data at this level may include duplication. England data excludes duplication.
	3.The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees. Prison contracts are excluded from the data.
	4.The postcode of the dental practice was used to allocate dentists to specific geographic areas. SHA areas have been defined using the Office for National Statistics all fields postcode directory.
	5.The number of dentists per 10,000 people has been calculated using 2004 population data, as this is the most up to date available.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 17WS, on national health service dentistry, if she will break down the 859 training places for 2005 by dental schools; and how many of these places have been taken up by overseas students.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 November 2005
	A breakdown of the 859 training places is shown in the table. All of the 859 students were from the United Kingdom or other countries in the European Union and are in addition to any students the schools admitted from other overseas countries.
	
		Training places, dentistry
		
			 Dental school Admissions 2005 
		
		
			 Queen Mary's London 101 
			 Birmingham 90 
			 Bristol 84 
			 Guy's Kings St. Thomas' 166 
			 Leeds 84 
			 Liverpool 89 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 98 
			 Manchester 63 
			 Sheffield 84 
			 Total 859

Dentistry

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population in the area served by Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth primary care trust was registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The percentage of the population who were registered with an national health service dentist in Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth primary care trust as at 30 September each year is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage of population 
		
		
			 1997 56 
			 1998 51 
			 1999 50 
			 2000 49 
			 2001 49 
			 2002 49 
			 2003 48 
			 2004 48 
			 2005 52 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Registration rates (i.e. the percentage of the population registered with a dentist) have been estimated by including registrations in the area of the dentist according to the postcode of the dental surgery (not the patient's address). So the registration rates for some areas may be affected by some patients receiving dental treatment in a different area from the one in which they live.
	2.The registration rates use population estimates for the primary care trust areas for the nearest year for which data are available. Figures for 1997 to 2000 have been calculated from 2001 population data. Figures for 2004 and 2004 have been calculated from 2003 population data.
	3.The changes in registration period from two years to 15 months under the General Dental Services from 1 September affected the registration numbers from December 1997 onwards, so the 1997 figures are not comparable with later figures. Data for 2004 and 2005 include some personal dental service proxy registrations, that is counts of patients seen in the past 15 months.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will commence the review of community dental services.

Rosie Winterton: The review of community dental services commenced in early 2004 and the resulting consultation document, Creating the Future was published in December 2004. The Department has since invited NHS Employers, the organisation representing national health service employing organisations, to negotiate new pay, terms and conditions for salaried primary care dentists.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the three-year dental pay deal will be extended beyond April 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The current pay deal for salaried primary dental care services ends in April 2006. The doctors and dentists pay review body will make recommendations for levels of pay in 200607. We have also asked NHS Employers to take forward negotiations on a new pay system for salaried primary care dentists.

Dentistry

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new dentists have been recruited in the area covered by the Rochdale primary care trust in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The number of dentists that have joined general dental services (GDS) or personal dental services (PDS) in Rochdale primary care trust as at 30 September each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 1 
			 1998 5 
			 1999 1 
			 2000 2 
			 2001 9 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 5 
		
	
	Note:
	The number given is for complete new entrant dentists. This means the dentist had an open GDS or PDS contract in September of the specified year but no GDS or PDS contract in September of the previous year.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources she is making available in the Rochdale primary care trust area to increase NHS dental registration.

Rosie Winterton: An additional 250 million has been invested in national health service dentistry over the last two years to bring new dentists into the NHS and to address access in areas where historically there have been the biggest problems seeing an NHS dentist. We are implementing reforms in April 2006, which will enable primary care trusts (PCTs), including Rochdale PCT, to build further on this. They will be able to commission services from local dentists in ways that best meet the needs of their local population.
	The Department will issue PCT dental budgets for next year shortly.

Dentistry

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists have been recruited to work in Lincolnshire in each year since 2000.

Rosie Winterton: The number of dentists who have joined the general dental services (GDS) or personal dental services (PDS) in the county of Lincolnshire as at 30 September each year is shown in the table.
	
		NHS dentists recruited to work in Lincolnshire 200005
		
			  Complete new entrant 
		
		
			 2005 25 
			 2004 13 
			 2003 14 
			 2002 22 
			 2001 17 
			 2000 19

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists received gross earnings from the NHS of (a) over 500,000, (b) over 250,000, (c) over 100,000 and (d) over 50,000 in each year since 1997; and what her most recent estimate is of the average net earnings a dentist receives from the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: The requested information on gross earnings is shown in the table. Gross fees cover both the dentist's net income and practice expenses.
	The estimated average general dental service (GDS) net income for a dentist with a reasonable commitment to the GDS in 200405, excluding low earners, namely those dentists with GDS earnings less than 59,100 in 200405 was 70,000. Gross fees for principal dentists also include payment for work done by their assistant dentists.
	These estimates wholly exclude income from non-GDS work.
	
		Number of General Dental Service principals in England by gross GDS fee income
		
			 Number of GDS principals in England with earnings greater than or equal to 199697 199798 199899 19992000 
		
		
			 50,000 9,438 9,321 9,290 9,318 
			 100,000 4,741 4,816 5,265 5,346 
			 250,000 167 189 274 335 
			 500,000 10 14 20 29 
			 Total Dental Rates Study Group (DRSG) population in England 13,505 13,587 13,592 13,733 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of GDS principals in England with earnings greater than or equal to 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405(46) 
		
		
			 50,000 9,327 9,257 9,205 9,134 7,580 
			 100,000 5,653 5,837 5,972 6,133 4,843 
			 250,000 412 472 558 674 638 
			 500,000 42 58 54 91 89 
			 Total Dental Rates Study Group (DRSG) population in England 13,750 13,687 13,639 13,667 12,114 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.During 200405, the proportion of dentists working in personal dental service (PDS) increased from 7 per cent. to 23 per cent. This will lead to a significant break in the general dental service earnings series. Comparable PDS earnings data are not held centrally.
	2.Payments data relate to fees for treatments and patients capitation and exclude additional elements such as seniority and commitment payments.
	3.This table uses gross GDS fee income figures for dental rates study group (DRSG).
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board payments data

Dentistry

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have (a) joined and (b) withdrawn from NHS practice in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of dentists who have joined and left the general dental services (GDS) or personal dental service (PDS) in England as at 30 September each year.
	
		General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS), number of dentists who have joined and left the GDS or PDS in England as at 30 September each year
		
			  Complete new entrant Complete leaver 
		
		
			 2005 2,283 1,097 
			 2004 1,632 1,224 
			 2003 1,474 1,236 
			 2002 1,523 1,352 
			 2001 1,747 1,207 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Complete new entrant means the dentist had an open GDS or PDS contract in September of the specified year but no GDS or PDS contract in September of the previous year.
	2.Complete leaver means the dentist had an open GDS or PDS contract in September of the previous year but no GDS or PDS contract in September of the specified year.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2005 to the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb), Official Report, column 2155W, on dentistry, what plans her Department has to monitor clinical and distance standards for access to NHS dentistry in line with the undertaking given by the Prime Minister in September 1999 in relation to access to a local NHS dentist.

Rosie Winterton: It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) locally to set standards for access and monitor local performance.
	PCTs decide distance standards for each type of call (routine, emergency and urgent) and for type of area (urban or rural). The majority of PCTs in urban and rural areas typically have standards for routine calls of 10 miles and urgent calls at 15 miles. In October 2004, around 90 per cent. of callers to National Health Service Direct were being advised of available NHS dental services within PCTs' locally agreed distance standards.

Dentistry

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population in the area served by Rushcliffe primary care trust was registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		The percentage of the population who were registered with a national health service dentist in Rushcliffe primary care trust (PCT) area as at 30 September each year
		
			  Population (percentage) 
		
		
			 1997 56 
			 1998 53 
			 1999 53 
			 2000 54 
			 2001 53 
			 2002 52 
			 2003 49 
			 2004 45 
			 2005 47 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Registration rates, that is the percentage of the population registered with a dentist, have been estimated by including registrations in the area of the dentist according to the postcode of the dental surgery, not the patient's address. So the registration rates for some areas may be affected by some patients receiving dental treatment in a different area from the one in which they live.
	2.The registration rates use population estimates for the PCT areas for the nearest year for which data is available. Figures for 19972000 have been calculated from 2001 population data. Figures for 2004 and 2005 have been calculated from 2003 population data.
	3.The changes in the registration period from two years to 15 months under the general dental services from 1 September 1996 affected the registration numbers from December 1997 onwards, so the 1997 figures are not comparable with later figures. Data for 2004 and 2005 include some personal dental service proxy registrations, that is, counts of patients seen in the past 15 months.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre

Departmental Estate

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2107W, on the departmental estate, how much rent has been paid by the Department on the properties to which the answer refers since they ceased to be used as Community Health Council buildings.

Jane Kennedy: The following rent has been paid since December 2003 on the properties referred to; having established that there was no national health service interest they have been actively marketed:
	2224 High Road, Willesden58,750.
	A notice to break the lease from June 2006 has been served.
	128 The Grove, Stratford48,000.
	An assignment of the lease to a third party has been completed.
	42 Fulham Palace Road, Fulham56,000.
	The lease expires in December 2005.
	4547 Praed Street, Paddington260,000.
	Part sub-let at 72,000 per annum.

Departmental Running Costs

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual running costs of the Department of Health were in each year since 1999.

Jane Kennedy: Detailed information on administration costs for the Department back to 19992000and with projections to 200708is set out in Figure 8.1 of the 2005 Departmental Report (CM 6524) which is available in the Library.

ECG Machines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent since 1997 on buying ECG machines in hospitals.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is unable to provide an exact figure as this information is not collected centrally. However, following the launch of the national service framework for coronary heart disease (CHD) in March 2000, as part of a one-off central initiative, the Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund made 25 million available for a range of CHD equipment including electrocardiogram machines where these were a local priority.

Electronic Magnifiers

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide electronic magnifiers for the visually impaired through the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 1 December 2005
	The national health service hospital eye service provides optical devices and loans low vision aids, such as high-powered reading lenses, hand-held and stand magnifiers and telescopes, to people with visual impairment. In addition, some primary care trusts have local arrangements for the provision of low vision aids through community based opticians.
	Electronic magnifiers are classed as aids to daily living and as such providing them is the responsibility of local authority social services departments. Social service departments assess individuals' needs and arrange services to meet those needs. This can include the provision of closed circuit television. However, hand-held, stand and spectacle-mounted magnifiers are generally easier to use, more widely available and more accessible.
	In keeping with the principle of flexibility in meeting local needs, NHS hospital trusts, primary care trusts and social service departments are being encouraged to work more closely together, including the possibility of establishing joint budgets for equipment which could allow for the provision of a wider range of services and equipment than has hitherto been available.

Epilepsy

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people in each strategic health authority have been diagnosed with epilepsy since 1997, broken down by age group;
	(2)  how many patients diagnosed with epilepsy since 1994 have been reported as having suffered an adverse reaction after failing to take their anti-epilepsy drugs as prescribed; and what types of adverse reaction these were.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of people diagnosed each year with epilepsy is not collected.
	Adverse reactions can sometimes occur when patients are taking prescribed drugs. If epilepsy patients are not taking their anti-epilepsy medication then it is likely their symptoms associated with epilepsy will return. We do not collect information on the number of these cases.

Fertility Treatment

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many women who underwent (a) in vitro fertilisation and (b) ovulation induction in England and Wales were hospitalised due to (i) serious and (ii) minor complications in each of the last five years for which information is available;
	(2)  how many women who underwent (a) in vitro fertilisation and (b) ovulation induction in England and Wales suffered (i) a miscarriage, (ii) bleeding, (iii) ectopic pregnancy and (iv) ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in each of the last five years for which information is available;
	(3)  what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, (b) the British Medical Association and (c) the Royal College of Nursing about the complications of in vitro fertilisation; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Data on incidences of complications following in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and ovulation induction, including hospital admission for complications of these treatments, are not collected centrally by the Department nor routinely recorded by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
	The Department has not met the professional bodies recently to discuss complications of treatment. However, the HFEA, in its role as the national regulator, regularly meets professional bodies to discuss a range of issues relating to the provision of IVF, including complications of the treatment.

Fibromyalgia

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to make the general public aware of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Liam Byrne: We have no specific plans to raise public awareness of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
	NHS Direct, NHS Direct On-line and NHS Direct Interactive have been established to provide advice and information on health and self-care. Through these services, people have access to information on a range of conditions and illnesses, including fibromyalgia.

Free School Milk

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Education and Skills about the provision of free milk in schools for those aged between seven and 11 years.

Caroline Flint: No recent meetings have taken place between the Department and the Department of Education and Skills to discuss specifically the provision of free milk in schools for those aged between seven and eleven years. However, both departments meet regularly to discuss a range of issues across the school food agenda.

Good Hope Hospital (Waiting Times)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long a patient has had to wait on average for a (a) heart bypass, (b) breast cancer treatment, (c) hip replacement, (d) cataract treatment and (e) kidney transplant at Good Hope hospital in Sutton Coldfield in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Median time waited, in days, for selected procedures at Good Hope Hospital National Health Service Trust, 199798 to 200304
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Breast Cancer 16 12 10 12 9 9 14 
			 Cataract (46) (46) 7 9 118 12 13 
			 Heart by-pass 60 (46) (46) (46) (46) (46) (46) 
			 Hip replacement 204 208 168 185 330 212 210 
		
	
	(46)No operations in that year.
	Notes:
	1.There were no kidney transplant operations carried out in the years shown.
	2.Ungrossed dataFigures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is, the data is ungrossed.
	3.Main operationThe main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, for example, time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.
	4.Time waited (days)Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she will abolish the 48 hour general practitioner access target.

Liam Byrne: No.

General Practitioners

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of salaries for general practitioners was in the last five years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: Table 1 shows the total combined spend by primary care trusts (PCTs) in England, for both general medical services (GMS) and personal medical services (PMS), on payments to general practitioners and, since financial year 200405, practices in providing primary medical services (PMEDs) for financial years 200001 to 200405.
	The cost of salaried GMS GPs included in table 1 figures are separately reported for financial years 200001 to 200304 in table 2.
	
		Table 1: GMS/PMS total expenditure 2000 to 200405
		
			  Total GMS including PMS spend ( million) 
		
		
			 200001 3,650 
			 200102 3,816 
			 200203 4,060 
			 200304 4,623 
			 200405(47) 5,905 
		
	
	(47)200001 to 200405 general medical practitioner figures include both combined GMS and PMS GP spend.
	Notes:
	1.Data 200001 to 200304 are based on combined discretionary, non discretionary and PMS spend.
	2.Data for 200405 nGMS Contract spend is funded solely through Discretionary Unified Allocations.
	3.All data for 2000 to 200304 are taken from the audited health authority/PCT returns for England to the NHS summarised accounts. Data for 200405 are taken from the 303 PCTs in England and are unaudited. As such they are still subject to change.
	
		Table 2: Salaried GPs 200004
		
			  GMS salaried GPs only ( million) 
		
		
			 200001 3 
			 200102 3 
			 200203 6 
			 200304 6 
			 200405 n/a 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Salaried doctors as defined under SFA para. 52 relate to GMS only and are funded through discretionary GMS spend to the unified budget.
	2.Data are taken from the HA/PCT audited returns for England 2000 to 200304 only. 3. Data from 200405 are not available centrally.
	4.Separate data for PMS salaried GPs are not available centrally.

Health Outside Hospitals

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 November 2005, Official Report, column 1294W, on Health Outside Hospitals, whether she had received expressions of interest to run the consultation from companies with whom the Central Office of Information did not hold framework agreements prior to the contract being awarded; when Opinion Leader Research agreed a framework agreement with the Central Office of Information; when this framework agreement was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union; and what assessment she has made of the cost-effectiveness of restricting the number of companies to which the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say contract could be offered to those with which the Central Office of Information holds a framework agreement.

Liam Byrne: No expressions of interest were received from companies with whom the Central Office of Information (COI) did not hold framework agreements.
	Opinion Leader Research secured the current framework agreement with the Central Office of Information in December 2004. It was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union in February 2004.
	Opinion Leader Research had previous framework agreements with the Central Office of Information concurrently from 1998 to 2001 and from 2001 to 2004.
	The process of restricting the number of companies, open to tender for the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say contract, to only those whom the COI held a framework reduced the amount of time taken to procure services, from several months to a few weeks, while still conforming with procurement legislation.

Health Service Commissioning

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition she uses of (a) contestability and (b) the internal market in the commissioning of national health services.

Liam Byrne: New providers will give patients wider choice in where they receive treatment. Independent sector providers will provide a challenge by offering high quality and innovative services, and patient choice will challenge national health service providers to match the service quality and performance of the independent sector, thus promoting improved patient services.

Health Services (Uxbridge)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices in Uxbridge constituency have (a) opened and (b) closed since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: As at 30 September 2005, there were 11 dental surgeries working in the national health service general dental service (GDS) or personal dental service (PDS) within Uxbridge parliamentary constituency. Of these, one had opened since 30 September 1997. No dental surgeries have closed within this area in the same time period.

Healthy Eating

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to promote healthy eating among (a) children and (b) the general population.

Caroline Flint: The Choosing Health White Paper sets out the Government's strategy to promote healthy eating among children and the general population. Action includes healthy start which reforms the welfare food scheme, the 5 A DAY programme, the school fruit and vegetable scheme, the joint Department of Health and Department of Education and Skills food in schools programme and the obesity social marketing programme.

Hemel Hempstead General Hospital

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the strategic health authority plans are for the level of services to be provided by Hemel Hempstead general hospital; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority have advised that the implementation of Investing In Your Health will mean that Hemel Hempstead hospital will have the following:
	A new state-of the-art surgicentre:
	Performing thousands of elective operations every year. It should be completed by September 2007 and ready to open its doors in early October.
	Over the course of a year, a similar number of patients will be seen at Hemel Hempstead hospital as at Watford hospital.
	It will deliver all West Hertfordshire's day case surgery, most elective orthopaedic activity and most non-cancer related general surgery. It will also provide some planned day case paediatric surgery.
	Among the procedures to be performed there will be hip and knee replacements, cataracts, grommets, tonsillectomies and hernias.
	Accident and emergency (A and E) department:
	Fully medically-staffed (24 hour round the clock presence of a doctor).
	The department will not treat major trauma cases but it is expected that around 80 per cent. of the people currently visiting the A and E department would be safely cared for under the new arrangement. Patients will be seen and treated far more quickly than at present. Under current arrangements they have to wait as more urgent cases come in.
	It will include a children's rapid assessment unit where children with an illness or injury can be assessed and then either treated or sent to a more appropriate place for treatment.
	Diagnostic services:
	A full range of diagnostic services such as magnetic resonance imaging, computerised tomography scan, electrocardiogram, x-ray and blood tests will be available.
	Although most cancer treatment will be provided at the new state-of-the-art Hatfield hospital cancer unit, many diagnostic minor illness or injury will be seen and treated far more quickly than at present as under current arrangements they have to wait as more urgent cases come in.

Hemel Hempstead General Hospital

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to close the children's ward at Hemel Hempstead hospital; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 November 2005
	Any decisions regarding the children's ward at Hemel Hempstead hospital are a matter for the local national health service, which has responsibility for the reconfiguration and delivery of local service, working in partnership with its local community.

Hemel Hempstead General Hospital

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to reopen York Ward at Hemel Hempstead hospital; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 November 2005
	Any decision regarding the re-opening of York Ward at Hemel Hempstead hospital is a matter for the local national health service, which has the responsibility for the reconfiguration and delivery of local services, working in partnership with the communities it serves.

Hepatitis C

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where in England the survey of prevalence of hepatitis C antibody was carried out.

Caroline Flint: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has carried out surveys of the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in several populations that have differing degrees of risk of acquiring HCV. These are: adults in hospitals, women attending antenatal clinics, people attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, prisoners, and injecting drug users (IDUs). These and the areas where the surveys were undertaken are outlined in the table 1 .
	
		
			 Population surveyed Regions covered Date of survey 
		
		
			 Adults in hospitals (residual sera from specimens collected) Wales, London, South East, South West, North West, Eastern, West Midlands and Northern and Yorkshire 1996 
			 Women attending antenatal clinics London and Northern and Yorkshire 1996 
			 People attending GUM clinics (includes injecting drug users) Anglia and Oxford, London, (North Thames, South Thames), North West, Northern and Yorkshire, Trent and West Midlands 1995 and 1996 
			 Prisoners(49) England and Wales 1997 and 1998 
			 Injecting drug users(50) All regions of England 19982004 
		
	
	(48)The regional data are based on the region where samples were collectedthey are not necessarily the region where individuals lived at that time.
	(49)The survey covered eight prisons in England and Wales and was categorised by prison type and not by region.
	(50)Data for each region are available in supplementary tables on the HPA website at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hiv_and_sti/publications/Annual2005_ua/ua_idu_2004.pdf

HIV/AIDS

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2005, Official Report, column 1144W, on HIV tests, if she will break down the figures by sex.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Number of HIV tests offered(51) in Genitourinary Medicine Clinics by sex and strategic health authority, London: 2003 and 2004
		
			   2003 2004 
			 Strategic Health Authority Clinic name Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 North Central London Archway Sexual Health Clinic 2,743 2,854 3,162 3,514 
			  Clare Simpson House 674 852 1,258 1,794 
			  Moorfields Eye Hospital 64 45 65 52 
			  Mortimer Market Centre 7,387 7,045 8,563 8,072 
			  St. Ann's Hospital 1,699 2,693 2,786 3,703 
			  The Royal Free Hospital 1,849 2,101 1,625 1,795 
			  Town Clinic 870 1,340 1,082 1,634 
			 North East London Forest Healthcare 966 796 755 671 
			  Homerton Hospital 5,611 6,277 5,166 4,975 
			  John Scott Health Centre, Choices N4 4 13 19 71 
			  Newham General Hospital 1,625 1,804 2,677 3,106 
			  Oldchurch Hospital 460 421 302 299 
			  St. Bartholomew's Hospital 2,407 1,940 3,168 2,251 
			  Sydenham Centre 345 377 360 390 
			  The Royal London Hospital 4,355 4,592 3,812 4,550 
			 North West London Central Middlesex Hospital, Patrick Clements Clinic 3,141 3,225 3,328 3,501 
			  Charing Cross Hospital 2,554 3,166 3,661 4,829 
			  Ealing Hospital, Pasteur Suite 1,089 852 2,067 2,117 
			  Jefferiss Wing 8,402 8,842 9,807 10,604 
			  John Hunter Clinic, 4th floor 4,547 4,504 5,014 4,736 
			  Northwick Park Hospital 1,526 2,280 1,431 2,075 
			  South Westminster Centre 4,233 2,333 5,453 3,252 
			  Tudor Wing, Hillingdon Hospital 1,190 901 1,115 825 
			  West Middlesex University Hospital 1,736 1,462 3,491 2,769 
			 South East London Beckenham Hospital 1,265 1,443 1,437 1,831 
			  King's College Hospital(53) 6,155 6,827 8,681 8,793 
			  Lloyd Clinic, Second Floor 3,198 2,668 2,586 2,324 
			  St. Thomas's Hospital 8,726 8,072 8,224 7,428 
			  Trafalgar Clinic 2,601 2,740 2,977 2,855 
			 South West London Kingston Hospital 1,889 2,145 2,611 3,052 
			  Mayday University Hospital 1,921 2,142 4,622 5,006 
			  Queen Mary's University Hospital 1,907 3,006 1,940 3,014 
			  St. Helier Hospital 2,065 1,954 2,303 2,208 
			  The Courtyard Clinic 7,112 8,762 7,083 9,182 
		
	
	(51)Offered defined as KC60 codes S2 (HIV antibody test and sexual health screen) + P1A (HIV antibody test no sexual health screen) + P1B (HIV antibody test offered and refused).
	(52)King's College Hospital does not collect information for code S2.
	
		Number of HIV tests taken(53)in Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics by sex and strategic health authority, London: 2003  2004
		
			   2003 2004 
			 Strategic Health Authority Clinic name Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 North Central London Archway Sexual Health Clinic 2,148 2,175 2,432 2,559 
			  Clare Simpson House 577 685 1,009 1,304 
			  Moorfields Eye Hospital 51 35 54 36 
			  Mortimer Market Centre 6,894 6,242 7,841 7,054 
			  St. Ann's Hospital 1,267 1,228 1,738 1,716 
			  The Royal Free Hospital 1,358 1,575 1,269 1,403 
			  Town Clinic 608 802 733 935 
			 North East London Forest Healthcare 917 743 573 521 
			  Homerton Hospital 3,901 4,256 3,636 3,375 
			  John Scott Health Centre, Choices N4 4 13 19 65 
			  Newham General Hospital 1,199 1,293 1,642 1,609 
			  Oldchurch Hospital 323 304 283 283 
			  St. Bartholomew's Hospital 673 468 1,756 1,231 
			  Sydenham Centre 316 341 344 373 
			  The Royal London Hospital 1,262 1,150 320 243 
			 North West London Central Middlesex Hospital, Patrick Clements Clinic 2,090 2,179 2,345 2,345 
			  Charing Cross Hospital 2,007 2,271 2,365 2,786 
			  Ealing Hospital, Pasteur Suite 764 675 1,539 1,734 
			  Jefferiss Wing 6,298 6,365 6,992 7,791 
			  John Hunter Clinic, 4th floor 3,436 2,989 4,047 3,501 
			  Northwick Park Hospital 1,124 1,540 1,191 1,586 
			  South Westminster Centre 3,524 1,761 4,584 2,436 
			  Tudor Wing, Hillingdon Hospital 926 770 885 724 
			  West Middlesex University Hospital 1,733 1,266 2,283 1,701 
			 South East London Beckenham Hospital 775 776 880 1,035 
			  King's College Hospital(54) 3,277 3,176 4,244 3,788 
			  Lloyd Clinic, Second Floor 2,382 1,793 1,930 1,664 
			  St. Thomas's Hospital 4,992 4,680 5,195 4,584 
			  Trafalgar Clinic 1,905 1,911 2,236 2,030 
			 South West London Kingston Hospital 1,558 1,905 2,162 2,427 
			  Mayday University Hospital 1,001 1,135 1,618 1,569 
			  Queen Mary's University Hospital 1,106 1,447 1,130 1,455 
			  St. Helier Hospital 899 795 1,081 988 
			  The Courtyard Clinic 4,968 5,914 4,228 4,756 
		
	
	(53)Test taken defined as KC60 codes S2 (HIV antibody test and sexual health screen) + P1A (HIV antibody test no sexual health screen).
	(54)King's College Hospital does not collect information for code S2.
	Notes:
	The data used to compile these tables were taken from the KC60 return, which is made by all GUM clinics to the Health Protection Agency. The data does not represent the number of HIV tests offered and taken up by the population resident within each SHA, as many patients cross health boundaries to access GUM clinics. In addition, the gender and sexual orientation mix varies between clinics. Some clinics are attended by a high number of men who have sex with men and consequently this influences the number of HIV tests offered and taken.

HIV/AIDS

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to tackle HIV/AIDS.

Caroline Flint: Measures to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS were set out in the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV (2001) and the public health WhitePaper Choosing Health, published last November, available from the Library and from the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/05/89/45/04058945.pdf.
	These measures include targeted HIV prevention and health promotion work with those most at risk of HIV infection, such as gay men and African communities, provided through community organisations such as the Terence Higgins Trust and the African HIV Policy Network. The Choosing Health White Paper also announced a new high profile national campaign, to promote safer sex messages, aimed at reducing the prevalence and spread of all sexually transmitted infections including HIV. On 1 December, the Department published for consultation and action planto tackle HIV related stigma and discrimination, which is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/39/93/04123993.pdf.
	In addition to these national measures, primary care trusts are responsible for providing HIV prevention and services which meet the needs of their local populations. To support them in this role, the Department, working with professional bodies, has published recommended standards for national health service HIV services; a toolkit of best practice for sexual health promotion, and guidance on commissioning.

Hospices

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public funding has been provided to hospices in the Gravesham area in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The Department does not routinely collect the data requested. The level of funding given to local hospices is a matter for discussion between the commissioning primary care trust and the hospice.

Hospital Facilities

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations she has made concerning separate (a) sleeping areas, (b) washing facilities and (c) toilet facilities in new NHS hospital buildings.

Rosie Winterton: We appreciate the fact that many hospital patients feel more comfortable if they are in an area with other people of their own gender. We have set clear standards requiring the NHS to treat patients with dignity and respect, in environments that are supportive of privacy.
	Guidance issued to the national health service on the design of healthcare facilities sets out best practice standards in providing separate accommodation for the sexes, and maintaining patients' privacy and dignity. Single-sex accommodation is provided in 97 per cent. of NHS trusts.

Hospital Finance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in England are in debt; by how much in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The latest available audited data on the financial position of national health service trusts in England is for 200405. The 200405 financial position of all NHS organisations, including NHS trusts that reported an overspend in 200405, has been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOfInformation/ClassesOfInformation/fs/en

Hospital Food

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2005, Official Report, column 581W, on hospital food, if she will provide a breakdown of the information by (a) NHS trust and (b) region.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is available in the Library.

Hospital Staff

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals are planning staff cuts; and what sectors of jobs are being cut in each case.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally. Local delivery plans suggest that the national health service is planning to increase the overall number of staff in the period from March 2004 to March 2006.

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) new build and (b) refurbishment programmes in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust since 1997 were completed within budget.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally but can instead be provided by the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

Hull Royal Infirmary

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what operational capacity the MRI scanners at Hull Royal Infirmary operated in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: Data on the operational capacity of magnetic resonance imaging scanners are not collected centrally. Data on the number of magnetic resonance imaging scans performed in 200405, by national health service trusts are available at:
	http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity

Hull Royal Infirmary

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of eligible heart attack victims received blood clot removing drugs within 20 minutes of arriving at the Hull Royal Infirmary in the last period for which figures are available; and what the average percentage for hospitals in England was in the same period.

Liam Byrne: The percentage of eligible heart attack victims receiving blood clot removing drugs at Hull Royal Infirmary within 20 minutes for July to September 2005 was 48 per cent. The national aggregate average for the same period was 61 per cent.
	Hull Royal Infirmary with the local ambulance service should continue to work together to increase the proportion of people suffering from heart attack who are treated within an hour of calling for help. The national target is to increase this proportion by 10 percentage points per year.
	There may be good clinical reasons for taking time to administer appropriate drugs; for example, complex symptoms sometimes require more expert advice or more tests.
	Source:
	Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project

Immunisation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department made of (a) the impact on general practitioners' finances and (b) the availability of immunisation services before the five-in-one vaccine was introduced; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 1 December 2005
	Uptake levels of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and polio at 24 months of age has not changed significantly since the introduction of Pediacel in September 2004 and remains around 93 per cent. for England. No assessment has been made of the impact of Pediacel's introduction on general practitioner's finances and could not be easily done.

Immunisation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners have indicated that they intend to opt out of the Government's childhood immunisation programme; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 1 December 2005
	There is no information available centrally on how many practices are planning to opt out of providing childhood immunisation services. Should they choose to do so, as provided for within the new primary medical care contractual arrangements, a practice would lose one per cent. of their global sum payment.

Intensive Care

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect on pandemic planning of a reduction in high dependency or intensive care services at Burnley General Hospital.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 29 November 2005
	It is for the local national health service to assess the potential demands in its area and to plan appropriate responses that may include opening additional capacity, cancelling or diverting planned work and providing care in a variety of locations away from traditional critical care areas.
	All NHS organisations are expected to have plans in place which are appropriate for a possible human 'flu pandemic and which are regularly tested and updated. The operational guidance on planning for a 'flu pandemic originally published in May 2005 and updated in October 2005 contains planning checklists for strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts and NHS trusts to inform their plans. The Department will be working with SHAs to ensure those plans are in place across the country.

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the IT projects costing over 1 million in use in her Department and introduced since 1997 have been scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee; and if she will list them.

Liam Byrne: Since 1997 none of the Department's projects costing 1 million or more and in use was subject to scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-British passport holders are detained in the United Kingdom under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally.

Mental Health

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the objectives of (a) the Mental Health National Service Framework and (b) the NHS Plan since 2000 in (i)North West Leicestershire and (ii) England.

Rosie Winterton: The implementation of the national service framework for mental health is envisaged to take 10 years and a comprehensive account of the progress made in the first half of the implementation period is available in the national director for mental health's report, The National Service Framework for Mental HealthFive Years On.
	Most of the targets set for mental health services in the NHS Plan have now been met. At the end of March, there were 343 crisis resolution, 262 assertive and 109 early intervention teams in England. In addition, 1,520 community gateway, 654 carer support and 648 graduate primary care staff were employed in the national health service.
	Since the publication of the NHS Plan, 205 secure beds and 75 specialist rehabilitation hostel places for people with personality disorders have been created. The NHS Plan included a target to move up to 400 inappropriately placed patients out of the high security hospitals, which was achieved by its end of 2004 target date. All prisoners with severe mental health illness now have a care plan and 360 prison in-reach staff have been recruited to help manage prisoners with severe mental illness.
	At the end of March, Leicester Partnership NHS Trust, which delivers mental health services in North West Leicestershire, was providing six crisis resolution, one early intervention and four assertive outreach teams. In addition, 38.7 whole-time equivalent (wte) graduate primary care, 10 wte community gateway and 2.2 wte carer support staff were employed by the Leicester Partnership NHS Trust at the end of March.

Mental Health

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Healthcare Commission on measures to improve the performance of NHS mental health services.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has worked closely with the Healthcare Commission on the development of performance indicators for assessing mental heath services in 200506 and expects to do so for 200607. This covers the assessment of both mental health provider trusts and the commissioning role of primary care trusts. The Healthcare Commission's assessments of mental health services are based on the framework of standards and objectives set out in National Standards, Local ActionHealth and Social Care Standards and Planning Framework for 200506 to 200708.

Mental Health

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on (a) talking treatments and (b) drug treatments for mental health problems delivered through primary care services in each strategic health authority area in each year between 200001 and 200405.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the requested format. Information about spend on drugs listed in the British National Formulary Chapter 4 (central nervous system drugs) that were dispensed in the community in England in each year from 200102 to 200405 is shown in table 1.
	
		Table 1
		
			   
		
		
			 200001 915,273,032 
			 200102 1,077,116,609 
			 200203 1,217,777,827 
			 200304 1,346,269,724 
			 200405 1,439,405,155 
		
	
	Notes:
	Prescription information is taken from the Prescription Cost Analysis system, supplied by the Prescription Pricing Authority, and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community (i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.) Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions.
	Information about spend on talking treatments that were delivered in primary care is not held centrally by the Department. The National Survey of Investment in Mental Health Services has captured information on planned spend on psychological therapy services since 200102. This information is shown in table 2 and reports of the National Survey of Investment in Mental Health Services for each financial year from 200102 to 200405 are available at www.dh.gov.uk
	
		Table 2
		
			   
		
		
			 200102 103,471,000 
			 200203 122,052,000 
			 200304 129,352,000 
			 200405 141,378,000

New Vaccines

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) role and (b) process is of (i) the National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence and (ii) the Joint Committee for Vaccines and Immunisation in (A) approving and (B) licensing new vaccines; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) was set up to give advice to the national health service on best clinical practice including clinical and cost effectiveness of drugs and other treatments. Details of NICE'S processes and methodologies are available on NICE'S website at www.nice.org.uk.
	The Joint Committee for Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) has no role in licensing new vaccines. The Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for licensing vaccines. In this work MHRA would seek advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), the Government's independent safety experts.
	The JCVI's role is to advise the Secretaries of State for Health, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on matters relating to communicable diseases, preventable and potentially preventable through immunisation. The JCVI does make recommendations to the Secretaries of State on the suitability of new vaccines for the national immunisation programme.
	The JCVI committee and the institute have collaborated to work on topics such as the use of antiviral agents for influenza.

NHS Doctors (Suspensions)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that national health service doctors suspended by hospital trusts have their cases dealt with (i) justly and (ii) speedily; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: We took steps in 2001 to improve the performance of the NHS in dealing with suspensions by establishing the National Clinical Assessment Authority, which is now part of the National Patient Safety Agency. New suspensions procedures agreed in 2004 gave the National Clinical Assessment Authority a key role in advising on the management of all suspensions. By April 2005, the total of long-term exclusions of all types, including what was previously called gardening leave, had halved from 56 in June 2003 to a figure of 25.
	A new disciplinary framework agreed with the medical and dental professions was implemented in June this year. It is mandatory across NHS trusts and will speed up local procedures for handling disciplinary cases.
	Notes:
	Complete new entrant means the dentist had an open GDS or PDS contract in September of the specified year but no GDS or PDS contract in September of the previous year.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

NHS Bodies

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed by the (a) Dental Practice Board, (b) NHS Logistics Authority, (c) NHS Pensions Agency, (d) Prescription Pricing Authority and (e) NHS Counter Fraud and Security management service; and where each of their main centres of employment is.

Jane Kennedy: The establishment numbers, in whole time equivalents, (wte) as at 1 April 2005 and the centres of employment for the organisations requested are:
	
		
			 Organisation Centres of employment Establishment (wte) 
		
		
			 Dental Practice Board Eastbourne 273 
			
			 NHS Logistics Authority(55) Mainly Alfreton, with other distribution centres in: 1,313 
			  Bury St. Edmunds  
			  Maidstone  
			  Normanton  
			  Runcorn  
			  Bristol  
			  Bridgwater  
			
			 NHS Pensions Agency Fleetwood 367 
			
			 Prescription Pricing Authority Mainly Newcastle with smaller operations divisions in: 2,123 
			  Bolton  
			  Durham  
			  Liverpool Manchester  
			  Preston  
			  Sheffield  
			  Wakefield  
			  West Bromwich  
			
			 NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service London 251 
		
	
	(55) Represents the actual headcount (in wtes) and does not include open vacancies

NHS Logistics

Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was spent by NHS trusts in 200304 on consumable goods not purchased from NHS Logistics; and how much of that sum is represented by (a) drugs, (b) medical and surgical equipment-maintenance, (c) x-ray equipment purchase, (d) x-ray film and chemicals-purchase, (e) x-ray equipment-maintenance, (f) laboratory equipment maintenance, (g) contract hotel services (including cleaning), (h) postage, (i) telephones, (j) advertising, (k) travel, (l) subsistence and removal expenses, (m) other transport costs, (n) electricity, (o) gas, (p) other fuels, (q) water and sewerage, (r) external general services contracts, (s) furniture, office and computer equipment, (t) computer hardware, maintenance contracts and data processing contracts, (u) business rates, (v) rent, (w) building and engineering equipment, (x) building and engineering contracts, (y) total purchase of healthcare from non-national health service bodies, (z) total external contract staffing and consultancy services and (aa) auditors' remuneration;
	(2)  how much each NHS trust spent in 200304 on consumable goods (a) purchased and (b) not purchased from NHS Logistics;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2005, Official Report, column 585W, on NHS Logistics, how many of the products and services were purchased direct from the manufacturers and service providers by NHS trusts.

Jane Kennedy: The following table shows those categories of products and services used by NHS Trusts which are not purchased through the NHS Logistics Authority, or where, as indicated, there is minimal activity.
	The spend by NHS trusts for 200304 for these categories was as follows.
	
		
			 Products and services200304  
		
		
			 Drugs (including Gases)(56) 2,307,732,964 
			 Medical and Surgical EquipmentMaintenance 114,079,014 
			 X-Ray EquipmentPurchase 32,698,714 
			 X-Ray Film and ChemicalsPurchase 58,124,105 
			 X-Ray EquipmentMaintenance 63,116,985 
			 Laboratory EquipmentMaintenance 27,427,273 
			 Contract Hotel Services (Incl. Cleaning) 406,385,852 
			 Postage 69,197,837 
			 Telephones 206,527,436 
			 Advertising 132,167,883 
			 Travel, Subsistence and Removal Expenses(57) 363,547,841 
			 Other Transport Costs (Includes Transport and Moveable Plant) 304,926,808 
			 Electricity 129,952,456 
			 Gas 102,981,452 
			 Other Fuels (Including Oil And Coal) 36,304,157 
			 Water And Sewerage 59,349,315 
			 External General Services Contracts 267,412,996 
			 Furniture, Office and Computer Equipment(56) 272,320,110 
			 Computer Hardware, Maintenance Contracts and Data Processing Contracts 220,932,679 
			 Business Rates 220,256,280 
			 Rent 274,567,538 
			 Building and Engineering Equipment 125,835,348 
			 Building and Engineering Contracts 265,638,567 
			 Total Purchase Of Healthcare From Non-NHS Bodies 3,326,347,129 
			 Total External Contract Staffing And Consultancy Services 230,988,111 
			 Auditors Remuneration 78,720,480 
			 Total Non-Pay Revenue Expenditure 9,697,539,332 
		
	
	(56)Minimal activity through the NHS Logistics Authority
	(57)Not able to break this down into individual categories of (k)travel,(i) subsistence and removal expenses.
	The information requested in relation to consumable goods (a) purchased and (b) not purchased from NHS Logistics is not readily available and could be only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The quantities of products and services purchased direct from the manufacturers and service providers by NHS trusts is not readily available and could only be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NHS Pensions Agency

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the likely impact on staff employed to deliver NHS student grants and bursaries at Hesketh House in Fleetwood when the NHS Pensions Agency based on that site is contracted out of the Department;
	(2)  how many organisations put in bids to take up the contract to run the NHS Pensions Agency;
	(3)  if she will place in the Library the business case produced on the contracting out of the NHS Pensions Agency;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the likely impact on jobs at Hesketh House in Fleetwood of the contracting out of the work of the NHS Pensions Agency;
	(5)  what consultation she expects the new NHS Business Services Authority to undertake when it implements the process of contracting out the NHS Pensions Agency;
	(6)  if she will list those she consulted on the decision to contract out the work of the NHS Pensions Agency;
	(7)  when the decision was made to contract out the work of the NHS Pensions Agency based at Hesketh House in Fleetwood.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Pensions Agency is to become part of the Business Services Authority (BSA) on 1 April 2006. This was first announced in the report, Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's Length Bodies published in July 2004. This report reflected Government policy to reduce costs of administration through modernisation of systems and use of private sector capability where appropriate. The Implementation Framework for Reconfiguring the DH's Arm's Length Bodies:, redistributing resources to the NHS frontline published in November 2004 built on this approach. In implementing these reports, consideration is being given to market testing a wide range of the BSA's functions, not just those of the NHS Pensions Agency.
	Following a review of the NHS Pensions Agency by KPMG, a report recommending full outsourcing of this mostly administrative business was published on 21 May 1998. The decision to outsource elements of the business was announced on 6 March 2000. The KPMG report was placed in the Library of the House on the same day. Expressions of interest were invited through the official Journal of the European Community on 20 June 2000 and 33 organisations responded.
	The outcome of the procurement process was to award a contract covering about half of the NHS Pensions Agency's functions to Paymaster (1836) Limited with an option to expand to all its functions at a point in the future. The contractual terms agreed at that time obliged the NHS Pensions Agency to negotiate with Paymaster (1836) Limited first on any proposed expansion of the outsourcing arrangements.
	Should a decision be made to expand the existing outsourcing arrangements at the NHS Pensions Agency, full consultation will be undertaken with both trade unions and employees.
	If outsourcing some or all of the NHS Pensions Agency is extended as a result of current negotiations, employees dealing with NHS Pensions and the student bursary scheme will transfer to the private sector partner under the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.
	The resulting contract with the private sector supplier will reflect the principles of the Joint Statement of Good Practice issued on 6 October 2005 by the Department, NHS Employers, the Confederation of British Industry and the Business Services Association, together with a number of trade unions. That statement commits private sector suppliers who contract with the NHS to meet minimum standards on pay, conditions of service and work force issues.
	Similarly, contractors are required to offer all transferring NHS employees membership of a pension scheme broadly comparable to the NHS scheme.

NHS Professionals

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when she expects NHS Professionals to become completely self-funding;
	(2)  what the average time taken was between an invoice being received and payment being made by users of services of NHS Professionals in the last year for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many statutory demands for payment NHS Professionals has received in each year since its creation;
	(4)  how much NHS Professionals has spent on external consultants in each year since its creation;
	(5)  what percentage of suppliers of services to NHS Professionals are waiting for payment of services rendered (a) three months to six months ago, (b) six months to 12 months ago and (c) 12 months ago or longer;
	(6)  what the total amount of payment made to suppliers of services to NHS Professionals has been to compensate for late payment and other associated legal costs since it became operational; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: NHS Professionals is currently working with officials in the Department to develop a three year corporate strategy underpinned by annual business plans so that it can become self-financing and prepare to take on independent status from 200708 as proposed in the review of Departmental arm's length bodies in 2004.
	NHS Professionals meets the Best Payment Practice in the NHS, which requires at least 95 per cent. of suppliers to be paid within 30 days. During the financial year 200405 it received two statutory demands for payment, paid a total of 2,000 to compensate for late payment and other associated legal costs and spent a total of 2.5 million on external consultants. The external consultant costs included the provision of internal audit facilities, support for the relocation of the main offices in the south to a new contact centre and the development of a new booking system. Information relating to the percentage of suppliers of services to NHS Professionals waiting for payment of services rendered is not held centrally.

NHS Reforms

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with (a) NHS staff and (b) trade unions about the implications for staff of the reforms proposed in Commissioning a Patient-led NHS.

Liam Byrne: The Department has had several discussions with stakeholders. In our proposals sent out on 28 July, we indicated that we were minded to require primary care trusts (PCTs) to reduce their service-provision functions by the end of 2008. Since that document, we have listened to stakeholders. The policy moving forward, in relation to service-provision, is that this will be a matter for PCTs to determine locally. So any move away from direct provision of services will be a decision for the local NHS within the framework set out in the forthcoming White Paper and after local consultation, including professions allied to medicine.
	We will support PCTs who want to do that, but we will not instruct PCTs to do it, nor will we impose any timetable. What matters is getting the best services for each communityand that is what the White Paper will focus on.

Nurses

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the nurses who qualified in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004 found nursing employment in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Nurses

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have been employed by Lancashire NHS Teaching Trust in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Nurses employed by Lancashire National Health Service Teaching Trust, 1997 to 2004 -- Headcount
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002(58) 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Chorley and South Ribble 701 746 775 772 603 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Preston Acute 1,272 1,234 1,264 1,256 1,330 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Lancashire Teaching n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,915 1,928 1,855 
			 Total 1,973 1,980 2,039 2,028 1,933 1,915 1,928 1,855 
		
	
	(58)The Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was formed in 2002 following a merger of the Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust with the Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Nurses

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses are practising in Ribble Valley constituency.

Rosie Winterton: Information relating to the number of qualified nurses, national health service hospital and community health services, employed by the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley primary care trust (PCT) in the school nursing area of work as at 30 September 2004 is shown in the table.
	
		Practising school nurses in Ribble Valley -- Headcount
		
			  Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT 
		
		
			 All qualified school nurses13 
			 Qualified school nurses(59) 3 
			 School nursing nurses(60) 10 
		
	
	(59)Only registered nurses with a specific school nursing qualification are defined as qualified school nurses.
	(60)Other qualified nurses who work in the school nursing area of work but who do not hold a specific school nursing qualification.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004

Nurses

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have been employed by Sandwell and City Hospital Trust in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: In 2002 Sandwell Healthcare National Health Service Trust and the City Hospital NHS Trust merged to form Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. Responsibility for community nursing services transferred to Oldbury and Smethwick Primary Care Trust.
	The information in the table shows the number (headcount) of nurses at each organisation.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (including GP practice nurses)in each specified organisation as at 30 September each specified year
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Total for the specified organisations 1,936 2,172 2,164 2,136 2,361 2,247 2,304 2,368 
			 Sandwell Healthcare NHS Trust 950 968 1,013 1,062 1,093
			 The City Hospital NHS Trust 986 1,204 1,151 1,074 1,268
			 Oldbury and Smethwick PCT  175 170 196 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust  2,072 2,134 2,172 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Nurses

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent NHS nurses have been employed by the NHS in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		All qualified nurses in hospitals and primary care, including practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)(61), in England; 19972004 -- Full-time equivalent
		
			  All qualified nurses HCHS qualified nurses Practice nurses(62) 
		
		
			 1997 256,093 246,011 10,082 
			 1998 257,597 247,238 10,359 
			 1999 261,340 250,651 10,689 
			 2000 266,987 256,276 10,711 
			 2001 277,334 266,171 11,163 
			 2002 291,285 279,287 11,998 
			 2003 304,892 291,925 12,967 
			 2004 315,440 301,877 13,563 
		
	
	(61)UPEs includes GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs
	(62)Data as at 1 October 1997 to 1999 and 30 September 2000 to 2004
	Notes:
	1.Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2.Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	3.Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	4.Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census
	Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent on reducing obesity in each of the last 30 months; how much the Department plans to spend on reducing obesity in the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: It is not possible to separate out the total amount spent by the Department on reducing obesity over the last 30 months. However, a number of nutrition and physical activity interventions have contributed to tackling obesity. The 200506 cost of these include 2 million for the Five-a-day programme, 135 million for Healthy Start, 36.8 million for the school fruit and vegetable scheme, 1.2 million for local exercise action pilots (LEAP) and 1 million for pedometers. Primary care trusts have also received 3 million for training on obesity.

Obesity

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will list the incentives available to general practitioners to (a) identify and (b) treat obesity in children;
	(2)  what incentives are available to general practitioners (a) to identify and (b) to manage obesity in children.

Caroline Flint: There are no specific incentives for identifying or treating childhood obesity in the current general medical services (GMS) contract. However, under the new GMS contractual arrangements, general practitioners must provide essential services that would include the provision of advice in connections with the care of obese children, including relevant health promotions advice.

Ostomy, Incontinence and Wound Care

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the arrangements for the provision of (a) ostomy, (b) incontinence and (c) wound care services and related products; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department is conducting a formal consultation about possible changes to the arrangements for the provision of dressings, incontinence appliances, stoma appliances, chemical reagents and other appliances to primary and secondary care.
	The consultation was published on 24 October 2005 and closes on 23 January 2006.

Ostomy, Incontinence and Wound Care

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England are receiving (a) ostomy, (b) incontinence and (c) wound care (i)products and (ii) services from the NHS.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected by the Department.

Postnatal Care

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of stay in hospital is after delivery for women who have given birth.

Liam Byrne: The length of stay in hospital after delivery for women who have given birth is a decision for the medical professionals involved and will vary depending on the medical circumstances of each individual case. In 200304, about 15 per cent. of women left hospital on the same day as delivery took place, about 35 per cent. left the next day, 20 per cent. two days later and 15 per cent. three days later.

Poverty-induced Ill Health

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to (a) commission and (b) evaluate research on the relationship between poverty and ill health; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department is not currently funding and has no plans to commission studies specifically related to poverty and health.
	The Department has supported and continues to support a range of studies looking at associated issues. Over the last eight years, research has been commissioned on both the impact of socio-economic circumstances on health, and also on the impact of mainstream and targeted services. For example, projects have been supported on inequalities in the outcome of pregnancy; the health effects of welfare advice in primary care, and on the effect of out of home day care on the health of disadvantaged families. A project on inequalities in the health of older people looked at the association between health and material and social well-being among older people using various indicators.
	In addition, the Department is the principal funder, with other Government Departments, of the five-year English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The study was begun in 2003 and is gathering data on income, housing, health and other areas from its representative sample of some 12,000 people aged 50 and over.

Primary Care Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects final proposals for the reconfiguration of primary care trusts to be published; whether these proposals will be put out for public consultation; and when she expects the proposals to be given effect.

Liam Byrne: On 15 October, strategic health authorities (SHAs) submitted their proposals for the reconfiguration of primary care trusts (PCTs), which set out how they intend to strengthen their commissioning function. These proposals were assessed by an independent external panel drawn from and representing a wide range of stakeholder interests, to determine whether the SHA proposals meet the criteria stipulated in Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS (July 2005).
	Following consideration by the external panel and Ministers, proposals for PCT reconfiguration will go forward for local consultation in December. The consultation period will begin on 14 December, running for 14 weeks.
	No decisions on the reorganisation of PCTs will be taken until this process has been completed. However, we anticipate, subject to local consultation, that the first organisational changes will come into effect from early summer.

Primary Care Trusts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to grant strategic health authorities powers (a) to remove the chief executives of primary and acute trusts and (b) to require primary care trusts to outsource or market test services; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 15 November 2005
	We have no plans to extend powers to strategic health authorities to remove the chief executives of primary and acute trusts.
	There is no requirement for primary care trusts to outsource or market test services.

Primary Care Trusts

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what administrative savings have been made by the Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth primary care trust since its inception; and what the forecast figures were for such savings.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold information on administrative savings or on forecast savings figures for primary care trusts.

Primary Care Trusts

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department is able to offer additional support to a primary care trust which has failed to pay (a) sums it owes to a social services authority under an agreement under section 31 of the Health Act 1999 and (b) its business rates; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 1 December 2005
	All national health service bodies are required to pay undisputed invoices within a reasonable time period.
	Strategic health authorities monitor the performance of individual NHS bodies and work with poor performance organisations to achieve and maintain a level of payment performance consistent with government accounting regulations and the Better Payment Practice Code.
	The growth in financial allocation to primary care trusts (PCTs) for 200506, 200607 and 200708 was 9.6 per cent., 9.2 per cent. and 9.4 per cent. respectively. The Department does not plan to offer any additional support to PCTs.

Primary Care Trusts

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the revised proposals for the reconfiguration of strategic health authorities and primary care trusts in (a) Lancashire and Cumbria and (b) elsewhere in England meet the 15 per cent. savings criteria set out in Sir Nigel Crisp's letter of 28 July; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 December 2005
	Each strategic health authority has submitted for consultation reconfiguration proposals which will achieve their share of the required 250 million savings.

Primary Care Trusts

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed in communication roles in each primary care trust on 1 October (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Public Engagement Contracts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 991W, on public engagement contracts, which other companies were asked to tender for the contract to run the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say consultation.

Liam Byrne: The tender for the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say, consultation was issued to four agencies, three of which responded; ICM Research, Market and Opinion Research International (MORI) and Opinion Leader Research (OLR).

Public Service Agreements

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how she will measure progress towards meeting her Department's Public Service Agreement target to offer a personalised care plan for vulnerable people most at risk.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on Monday 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 17056W.

Racial Equality

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many race equality impact assessments her Department had completed in the period (a) April 2004 to March 2005 and (b) April 2005 to November 2005; and how many assessments in each period resulted in a change of policy.

Rosie Winterton: In the period April 2004 to March 2005, 29 policies were assessed as part of the regulatory impact assessment process for race equality impact. None of these revealed the need for full race equality impact assessment. No race equality impact assessments have been completed since April 2005.

Racial Equality

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance the Commission for Racial Equality has given to the Department on the time within which a race equality impact assessment should be carried out in relation to published legislative proposals.

Rosie Winterton: The Commission for Racial Equality has issued guidance to public bodies on producing and publishing race equality impact assessments, but this does not prescribe specific timescales. The Department arrangements for publishing such assessments are set out in its race equality scheme for 2005 to 2008.

Radiotherapy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the average waiting times for (a) radical and (b) palliative radiotherapy in the area covered by Lancashire NHS Teaching Trust.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Radiotherapy

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) of 8 November 2005, Official Report, column 407W, on radiotherapy, if she will make a statement on her plans for an 18-week waiting time target.

Rosie Winterton: The 18 week pathway for December 2008 will measure from general practitioner referral to the start of hospital treatment including, where appropriate, radiotherapy. As is the case now, where the clinician decides that the patient requires urgent treatment waiting times will be much shorter. The national health service cancer plan targets will remain in place.

Rapid Review Panel

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the letter sent to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire by the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Jane Kennedy), on the Rapid Review Panel, dated 25 October, of the 118 products which have been reviewed by the Rapid Review Panel, if she will list the products which are in widespread use; and what estimate she has made of the time saved in introducing these products into widespread NHS use by the rapid review panel's proceedings.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected centrally but to 29 November 2005, 134 products have been reviewed by the Rapid Review Panel (RRP) and reported on the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) website.
	Of these products, Bardex 1C silver alloy hydrocel catheter, Dermamed skin protectant and Chloraprep topical antiseptic were given a recommendation 1, which means a clear benefit has been shown.
	Bardex 1C was introduced into national health service logistics stock in September 2005 and 15 trusts have so far begun to draw stock from this supply but others may be purchasing direct from the supplier. Chloraprep topical antiseptic is currently subject to consultation regarding its licence status and further information on Dermamed is being sought by the Purchasing and Supply Agency.

Respiratory Diseases

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Rainham and Wennington and South Hornchurch wards and (b) the remaining wards of the London borough of Havering were diagnosed with (i) lung cancer, (ii) asthma, (iii)pneumonia and (iv) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in each of the last five years; and what the national average number of cases of each disease was in each year.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not collected centrally for all the conditions that are being requested. However the information in the table shows the number of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer in South Hornchurch, Rainham and Wennington ward and the London borough of Havering and England for the period covering 1999 to 2003.
	
		Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer by selected areas and England, 19992003
		
			 Area 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Total 
		
		
			 South Hornchurch ward 11 14 8 7 15 55 
			 Rainham and Wennington ward 9 9 8 7 8 41 
			 Total for the remaining wards of Havering London borough 128 155 159 107 154 703 
			 England 31,778 31,439 31,131 30,322 29,889 154,559 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

School Food

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to source a greater proportion of the produce used in the school fruit and vegetables scheme from the UK.

Caroline Flint: We are obliged to tender competitively for the school fruit and vegetable scheme supply contracts and cannot, under current European Union competition law, favour United Kingdom growers in our tendering process.
	We are keen to explore ways of maximising locally grown produce and have designed the consumption calendar to reflect any seasonality for produce on a national and international level. Some products cannot be grown in the UK.

Secondments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 285W, on secondments, whether pension contributions for those NHS staff who are seconded to her Department are paid by her Department; and how many staff are on secondment or loan (a) into and (b) out of her Department expressed as a headcount.

Jane Kennedy: Staff seconded into the Department from the national health service will normally remain on their own organisation's payroll and the Department will reimburse their salary and pension contribution.
	There are currently 49 staff on secondment or loan into the Department.
	There are currently 180 staff recorded on the human resource systems as being on secondment or loan out of the Department.

Selby and York NHS Primary Care Trust

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial situation is of the Selby and York NHS primary care trust.

Liam Byrne: Selby and York primary care trust (PCT) recorded a deficit of 6.6 million in 200405 and is projecting a deficit of 9.968 million in the current financial year. The PCT is working with its national health service partner organisations to put in place a financial recovery plan.

Selby and York NHS Primary Care Trust

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the decision of York and Selby Primary Care Trust to delay referrals of all non-urgent cases for up to six months or more; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations she has received on the decision of Selby and York NHS Primary Care Trust to delay the treatment of non-urgent cases;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the impact on the York Hospital NHS Trust of the cancellation of non-urgent operations; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: From December all patients will receive inpatient treatment within six months of the decision being made to treat. Patients residing within the Selby and York Primary Care Trust area will receive treatment within this timeframe. The Department has received no representations on this issue.

Sexual Health

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was available to (a) North Somerset primary care trust and (b) all English primary care trusts for sexual health-related issues in the last year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for providing sexual health services which meet the needs of their local populations. Records are not held centrally of the amounts made available for sexual health by each PCT.
	In addition to local allocations, certain additional amounts of funding have been allocated by the Department in order to implement the national strategy for sexual health and HIV, and the sexual health elements of the Choosing Health White Paper. North Somerset PCT have received 125,000 for 200405. For all English PCTs, the total figure for 200405 is 37,765,000 capital and revenue funding.

Sexual Health

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of funding was for sexual health services in Easington primary care trust in each year since 2002.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the Department has allocated the following funding to Easington primary care trust as the lead PCT for the Durham Chlamydia screening programme, which is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Funding () 
		
		
			 200304 150,000 
			 200405 301,000 
			 200506 478,000 
			 Total 929,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	The funding is allocated to Easington PCT which is then shared with the other Durham PCTs (Darlington, Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street, Durham Dales, and Sedgefield)
	Source:
	Dept of Health

Sexual Health

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will begin the national advertising campaign on sexual health announced by her predecessor on 26 November 2004.

Caroline Flint: Our current plans are to aim to launch the new sexual health campaign around spring 2006.

Shropshire and Staffordshire Health Authority

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget of the Shropshire and Staffordshire Health Authority is for 200506; and what plans she has to increase this budget for the next financial year.

Rosie Winterton: Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority has a resource budget of 5.0 million for its running costs in 200506.
	The Department has not determined strategic health authority budgets for 200607.

Smoking

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have suffered observable damage as a result of their mothers smoking during pregnancy in each year for the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: The figures requested are not routinely collected.
	The national health service leaflet, Smoking in Pregnancy sets out the substantial risks that smoking in pregnancy presents including slow growth of the foetus, premature birth, stillbirth, low birth weight, and cot death. A copy of the leaflet is available in the Library.

Spinal Injuries

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the spinal injuries units in England; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There are 11 spinal injury units in the United Kingdom. Eight of theses specialist spinal cord injury centres are based in England and are listed as follows:
	The North of England Spinal Injuries Centre
	The James Cook University Hospital
	Marton Road, Middlesbrough
	Cleveland TS4 3BW
	The Midland's Centre for Spinal Injuries
	The Robert Jones  Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital
	Oswestry
	Shropshire SY10 7AG
	The Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre
	Salisbury District Hospital
	Odstock Road
	Salisbury SP2 8BJ
	The Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Unit
	Northern General Hospital
	Osborne Building
	Merries Road
	Sheffield S5 7AU
	The Regional Spinal Injuries Centre
	Southport and Formby General Hospital
	Town Lane
	Kew
	Southport PR8 6NJ
	The London Spinal Injuries Unit
	Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
	Brockley Hill
	Stanmore HA7 4LP
	National Spinal Injuries Centre
	Stoke Mandeville Hospital
	Mandeville Road
	Aylesbury
	Bucks HP21 8AL
	Yorkshire Regional Spinal Injuries Unit
	Pinderfields General Hospital
	Aberford Road
	Wakefield WF1 4DG
	Following the year-long review that the Department announced in April, 2003, new arrangements for the commissioning of specialised services were introduced. Strategic health authorities and primary care trusts now have responsibility for the planning, commissioning and monitoring of specialised services, working collaboratively within regional commissioning consortia. They should assess the healthcare needs of their population and commission services for their local area.

Spinal Injuries

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many serious spinal cord injuries have occurred in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Count of finished consultant episodes where primary diagnosis is spinal cord injury in national health service hospitals England 19992000 to 200304
		
			  Finished consultant episodes 
		
		
			 19992000 698 
			 200001 679 
			 200102 675 
			 200203 825 
			 200304 962 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Stem Cell Research

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diseases were cured as a result of (a) adult and (b) embryonic stem cell research in each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Research with embryonic stem cells has been licensed to allow scientists to understand and develop treatments for conditions such as motor neurone disease, diabetes and cystic fibrosis. It is still too early to speak of cures, but scientific and medical opinion is that stem cell research will revolutionise medicine in the 21st century.
	There has been a number of encouraging early stage clinical trials with adult embryonic stem cells. As a result of the United Kingdom stem cell initiative, the Government are investing 100 million in stem cell research and clinical trials over the next two years.

Stem Cell Research

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the ongoing projects using embryonic stem cells; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is responsible for licensing research to produce embryonic stem cell lines. A list of current licenses can be obtained from the HFEA website http://www.hfea.gov.uk/Research.
	There are no central figures for research involving embryonic stem cell lines, but the Medical Research Council's Stem Cell Steering Committee maintains details of embryonic stem cell lines that have been ethically sourced with informed donor consent.
	In response to the United Kingdom stem cell initiative, the Government have announced a total investment of 100 million in stem cell research over the next two years.

Strategic Health Authorities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital allocations she expects to be made to the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority over the next three years; and for what purpose each allocation will be made.

Caroline Flint: No decisions have yet been made on national health service capital allocations for 200607 onwards.
	The last round of capital allocations was announced in January 2003, covering 200304, 200405 and 200506.

Strategic Health Authorities

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed in the NHS in each strategic health authority in London.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table as national health service staff by main staff group for London Government office region by strategic health authority, as at 30 September 2004.

Strategic Health Authorities

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether strategic health authorities have a duty to report problems experienced by their constituent trusts in paying their suppliers to her Department.

Liam Byrne: Strategic health authorities are required to monitor the performance of individual national health service bodies and work with poor performing organisations to achieve and maintain a level of payment performance consistent with Government accounting regulations and the better payment practice code.
	SHAs do not have a specific duty to report problems experienced by NHS trusts and primary care trusts within their health economy to the Department, but, they do report to the Department on all aspects of performance.

Sunset Clauses

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her policy is in respect of the use of sunset clauses in legislation.

Jane Kennedy: The appropriateness of a sunset clause for the whole or part of any proposed legislation is considered on a case by case basis. It is also addressed when a regulatory impact assessment relating to legislation is being prepared.

Temporary/Agency Staff

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) temporary and (b) agency staff there were in the Department in each year since 2002.

Jane Kennedy: For information on temporary staff, I refer my hon. Friend to table A in Civil Service Statistics which covers permanent and temporary staff numbers (full-time equivalent basis) in the Department. Civil Service Statistics are available in the Library and on the Cabinet Office Statistics website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_service/statistics/civil_service_statistics/index.asp
	Information on agency staff is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, we are currently in the process of improving the data coverage of our human resource system and will in future include information on all non-permanent departmental staff.

Temporary/Agency Staff

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce the number of (a) agency and (b) non-permanent staff employed in her Department.

Jane Kennedy: The Department reports regularly to its managers on its establishment and vacancy factors to enable them to manage resources effectively. Recruitment controls that were in place during the Department's change programme have been relaxed to allow managers to recruit to posts, thus reducing the need for temporary cover.

Urology Services

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral statement of 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 503WH, on the review of urology services at the Kent and Canterbury hospital, when she expects an announcement to be made on the future of the services.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 8 December 2005
	This is a local matter. However, the Kent and Medway strategic health authority has advised that it is anticipated that an announcement on the outcome of the review of urology services at Kent and Canterbury hospital will be made following a meeting to be held on 19 December 2005.

Worcestershire NHS Mental Health Trust

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget was for the Worcestershire NHS Mental Health Trust in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership National Health Service Trust was established (as the Worcestershire Community and Mental Health NHS Trust) on 1 April 2000. Comparable figures are not available prior to 200001.
	The following tables show the total income for the trust each year.
	
		Worcestershire community and mental health NHS trust -- Total income: 000
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 200001 82,692 
			 200102 89,824 
			 200203 52,241 
		
	
	
		Worcestershire mental health partnership NHS trust -- Total income: 000
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 200304 49,971 
			 200405 58,808 
		
	
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the Worcestershire Community and Mental Health NHS Trust and the Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Working Time Directive

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the European working time directive on the quality and depth of training received by junior doctors;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the European working time directive on continuity of patient care.

Liam Byrne: This Government are committed to the overall aims of the working time directive (WTD) and ensuring fair working hours for doctors in training.
	The national health service is introducing changes to the way that hospitals are organised that improves continuity of care, including the hospital at night project. Changes to working patterns means it is increasingly important to make best use of training opportunities throughout the whole of the working day. The better managed, better structured and more robust training arrangements set out in modernising medical careers (MMC) will lead to more meaningful and focused training. This should be a benefit in developing rotas to support the implementation of the working time directive.
	Standards for postgraduate medical training are set by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board. A doctor cannot be entered on the specialist register until these standards have been met.

Working Time Directive

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the workload of (a) consultants and (b) registrars following implementation of the European working time directive;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the European working time directive on clinical exposure for surgical trainees;
	(3)  what research her Department has undertaken into the impact of the European working time directive on (a) junior doctors and (b) surgical trainees.

Liam Byrne: The working time directive (WTD) was implemented for the vast majority of national health service staff groups in 1998 in accordance with regulations. The Government negotiated an extension to the WTD for doctors in training to enable phased implementation from August 2004.
	Implementation of the WTD is the responsibility of NHS trusts, and all employees are entitled to appropriate working hours and rest breaks.
	However, the Department of Health in England worked with the health professions and NHS employers to provide joint guidance and invested an extra 46 million to support WTD implementation, including 20 national pilots and the hospital at night project. We are also funding independent research on the impact of WTD on medical training.
	Standards for postgraduate medical training are set by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board. A doctor cannot be entered on the specialist register until these standards have been met.